Shanghai is the largest city in China with about 25 million people. Situated along the smaller Huangpu River a few miles inland from the Yangtze River estuary.
In the 19th century, international attention to Shanghai grew due to European recognition of its economic and trade potential at the Yangtze. During the First Opium War (1839–1842), British forces occupied the city. The war ended in 1842 with the Treaty of Nanking, which opened Shanghai as one of the five treaty ports for international trade.
Shanghai became the international gateway to China, and the city was divided into the French, International and the Chinese settlements. (See foreign consessions).
Shanghai has been described as the “showpiece” of the booming economy of China. Featuring several architecture styles such as Art Deco and shikumen, the city is renowned for its Lujiazui skyline, museums and historic buildings – including the City God Temple, Yu Garden, the China Pavilion and buildings along the Bund.