Shanghai is located at the mouth of the Yangtze River on China's east coast, with a land area of more than 6,000 square kilometers and a population of 20 million. It's the country's largest economic, financial and commercial center.

Compared to Beijing, Shanghai looks more modern and fashionable but seems to lack places of historical interest and other symbols of China's past. But in fact, this vibrant international metropolis is also an ancient city with 700 years of history and culture behind it.

The Bund area is the most famous tourist attraction in the city, often referred to as the contour line of downtown Shanghai. It's located on the western bank of the Huangpu River, which is known as the mother river of Shanghai. The area was the earliest settlement for foreigners in the city.

Due to its advantageous geographic location, Shanghai was turned into an open port city in the 1840s, and it grew into the most flourishing city in China as well as the financial and trade center of the Far East during the early decades of the 20th century.

The Bund is a typical showcase of Shanghai's links with the Western world during this period of history. Since the 1840s, dozens of Western-style buildings were erected in the area for foreign companies, banks, churches, apartments and hotels. Today the place is home to some 60 historical buildings of various Western architectural styles, such as Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque and Renaissance. At the Bund, visitors can take a cruise along the Huangpu River down to the estuary of the Yangtze River and fully enjoy the elegance and beauty of Shanghai.

Shanghai is one of the best places for shopping lovers. The city is nationally known as a shopper's paradise, and one of its major shopping districts, Nanjing Road, enjoys a reputation as the No.1 commercial street in China. The street is clustered with both old, time-honored brand stores and ultramodern shopping malls. Here you can find not only all types of Chinese goods, but also the most stylish products from all over the world.

Food is always an essential part of a good trip. Shanghai is a haven for everyone who craves delicacies from all over the country and around the world. You might feel overwhelmed by the great variety of Chinese and foreign cuisines available, but it will be a great pity if you don't taste some delicious Shanghai snacks. The best place to sample the most authentic local snacks is Chenghuangmiao, a marketplace filled with shops, restaurants and food stalls. Here you can enjoy all kinds of tempting Shanghai delicacies.

Shanghai is a charming place where modernity mingles with antiquity, and the East meets West. As one of the most dynamic and prosperous cities in China, Shanghai will play host to the World Expo from May 1 to October 31 this year.

Since its successful bid for the World Expo in 2002, Shanghai has spared no efforts in preparing for the international event. To ensure a more orderly and beautiful environment for the Expo, Shanghai has implemented an extensive facelift project ranging from building new roads, widening streets and refurbishing old buildings to upgrading infrastructure, increasing green coverage and correcting improperly translated English signs in public places. The facelift project has given Shanghai a new and more beautiful look to usher in the World Expo.

The World Expo is expected to attract 70 million visitors from home and abroad to Shanghai during its six-month run. This will pose a big challenge for the city's transportation system and service industry. To cope with the huge passenger inflow during the Expo, Shanghai has invested heavily in upgrading its public transportation facilities.

The airport is the first stop for many people coming to Shanghai. As a major part of the Expo infrastructure construction project, a new terminal at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport was put into operation on March 16 to enhance the city's passenger handling capacity. The 360,000-square-meter terminal has 45 aircraft parking bays and an annual capacity of 40 million people.

The city has established a comprehensive public transportation network that provides convenient services for travelers. There are five subways and over 10 dedicated direct bus lines to the expo site in addition to the 90 plus regular bus lines. The total track length of the subway system reaches 400 kilometers, ranking third in the world after New York and London.

Accommodations are another fundamental necessity for a good trip. The local hotels are all fully prepared to receive Expo visitors. But they will not be the only lodging option.

If you prefer to experience the everyday lives of Shanghai residents, Expo homestays will be a wonderful choice. As a supplement to hotels, more than 500 local households have been approved by Expo organizers to host overseas travelers in their homes. The home inns are certainly not as luxurious as star-rated hotels, but at homestay visitors can get a better idea of what life is like for an ordinary household in Shanghai. Many participants in the homestay program have prepared special gifts for their guests and upgraded their rooms to provide better accommodations.

As part of its efforts to ensure the World Expo is a success, Shanghai has recruited 200,000 volunteers to work at the Expo Park and service stations around the city. They will offer reception, interpretation, information counseling and emergency aid services. The volunteers have been chosen from more than 600,000 applicants, including some 3,000 from foreign countries.

The curtain of the World Expo will lift in just five weeks, and Shanghai is now gearing up for its final preparations. The city and its people will go all out to put on a splendid and memorable event and present the best services to guests from all over the world.