Shanghai Location

Shanghai, also called "Hu" for short in Chinese, is situated at 31^o41' north latitude and 121^o29' east longitude. Bordering on Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces on the west, Shanghai is washed by the East China Sea on the east . North of the city, the Yangtze River pours into the East China sea It also occupies a central location along China's coastline. Thanks to its advantageous geographic location, Shanghai is an excellent sea and river port, boasting easy access to the vast hinterland.

Shanghai Climate

With a pleasant northern subtropical maritime monsoon climate, Shanghai enjoys four distinct seasons, generous sunshine and abundant rainfall. Its spring and autumn are relatively short compared with summer and winter. The average annual temperature is 16 degrees Celsius. The city has a frost-free period lasting up to 230 days a year, and receives and average annual rainfall of 1,200 millimetres . However, nearly 60% of the precipitation comes during the May-September flood season, which is divided into three rainy periods, namely, the Spring Rains, the Plum Rains and the autumn Rains.

Shanghai Area

The city covers an area of 6,340.5 square kilometres, 0.06% of China's total territory, which extends about 120 kilometres in north and south and nearly 100 kilometres in east and west. Shanghai has an urban area of 2,057 square kilometres, land area of 6,219 square kilometres and water area of 122 square kilometres. The city's Chongming Island is the third largest island in China, covering an area of 1,041 square kilometres.

Shanghai City Emblem

Design of the city emblem of Shanghai was approved by the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress in 1990. The triangle emblem consists of a white magnolia flower, a large junk and a propeller. The propeller symbolizes the continuous advancement of the city; the large junk, one of the oldest vessels plying Shanghai's harbour, represents the long history and bright future of the port; and the large junk is set against a white magnolia flower blossoming in the early spring.

Shanghai City Flower

In 1986, the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress passed a resolution adopting the white magnolia as the city flower. The white magnolia is among the few spring flowers in the Shanghai area. It is in full blossom in early spring and before the Clear and Bright Festival, which usually falls on April 5. The flower has large, white petals and its eye always looks towards the sky. Therefore, the flower symbolizes the pioneering and enterprising spirit of the city.

Emergency Telephone, Shanghai