Shanghai is located near the mouth of the Yangtze River on a delta that
is only 10 to 20 feet above sea level.
In English Shanghai means on the sea or going to the sea. Note from the map of Shanghai that it is
located at the confluence of the Huang Pu River and the Suzhou River. In
English huangpujiang is yellow-banked river.
The old city is on the west bank of the Huangpu River. North of the old
city is the major commercial area. Nanjing Road is the major commercial
street. Note the location of Shanghai Number One Department Store. Yen
An Road is a major street where Shanghai's administrative offices are
located.
Western Shanghai is primarily residential and is bounded by Chung Shan Jie on the north and west. There are also residential areas
east of the Huangpu River. A major commercial area called Pudong
(Eastbank) has been built east of the Huang Pu River. The Hong Kou
District is north and east of the Suzhou River and contains many
factories. In English Hong Kou means mouth or entrance of the rainbow.
The Municipality of Shanghai consists of the central city and ten
adjoining counties. It is directly controlled by the central government
in Beijing.
In 1970 the Municipality of Shanghai had about 12 million people. There is a twenty square mile central city where the density is
125,000 per square mile, a transition zone of 160 square miles where the
density is about 16,000 per square mile, and an agricultural hinterland
of 2000 square miles where the density is about 2000 per square mile.
Shanghai's latitude is about 32° N, which is about the same as San Diego, California and Cairo, Egypt. Is average annual temperature is
61°F with a maximum of 80° in July and a minimum of 37°F in January. The
rainfall averages 45 inches per year, with the heaviest in June and the
lightest in December.
