Shanghai, a municipality directly under the central government of China, is a modern international metropolis with a spirit of inclusivity, pursuit of excellence, open-mindedness, and humility.

Shanghai located at the Yangtze River estuary in East China and facing the Pacific Ocean, forms part of the Yangtze River Delta, which is one of China's most robust, open and innovative regions.

By the end of 2024, Shanghai covered an administrative area of 6,340.5 square kilometers, governed 16 districts, had a permanent population of 24.8026 million, and recorded a per capita GDP of 217,100 yuan ($30,490) 

As China's largest economic powerhouse and an important international financial center, Shanghai had a GDP of 5.39 trillion yuan in 2024, up 5 percent year-on-year.

Shanghai is also a major international trade and consumption center. In 2024, Shanghai's total imports and exports reached a record high of 4.27 trillion yuan, while total retail sales of consumer goods reached 1.794 trillion yuan.

Shanghai is a major global shipping center and an open hub, implementing the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) agreement and accelerating the construction of the Waigaoqiao and Hongqiao national import trade promotion and innovation demonstration zones.

Shanghai Port has maintained its position as the world's leading container port for the past 15 years, handling a record 51.506 million twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, in 2024.

The city is also making significant progress toward establishing an international science and technology innovation center. In 2024, the proportion of R&D expenditure to the GDP was approximately 4.4 percent.

Shanghai is evolving into an internationally influential digital city, strengthening the foundational support for urban digital transformation.

It is one of the country's most international cities, with over 1,000 corporate headquarters and 591 foreign-invested R&D centers.

Shanghai is also a world-renowned cultural metropolis and international tourist destination. The Shanghai Museum East is now open to visitors, while the Shanghai Industrial Museum is under construction.

The city's transportation system is becoming more efficient thanks to convenient transfers and smart management. Shanghai has a comprehensive education system, with 69 higher-education institutions by the end of 2024.

In 2024, Shanghai launched a series of initiatives to implement action plans for green and low-carbon transformation. Supporting infrastructure along the waterfront areas of the Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek has been improved.

The southern section of the Expo Cultural Park opened to the public, and 230 kilometers of greenways were added. Dongtan in Chongming, a key habitat for migratory birds, was recognized as Shanghai's first UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.

Shanghai intends to boost its urban soft power to match its ambition to become a socialist metropolis with global influence. In the future, Shanghai will showcase its character of "International, Innovative and Inclusive", focus on high-quality development, and transform itself into an international economic, financial, trade, shipping, and science and technology innovation center, as well as a global digital city with significant influence.

Updated: Sept 10, 2025

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Government Work Report, thepaper.cn, 2025 Shanghai Basic Facts