Shanghai is the most developed city in China, the country's main center for finance and fashion, and one of the world's most populous and important cities.

Shanghai is split in two by the Huangpu River , which divides the city into Puxi , west of the river, and Pudong, east of the river. Both terms can be used in a general sense for everything on their side of the river, including various suburbs.  Shanghai is one of four cities in China that are administered as municipalities at the same level in the hierarchy as provinces . It is not part of any province and there is no government structure at province, prefecture or city level, just a government for Shanghai Municipality and one for each of the 16 districts within it. 

Shanghai is a fascinating mix of East and West. It has historic shikumen houses that blend the styles of Chinese houses with European design flair, and it has one of the richest collections of Art Deco buildings in the world. There were concessions (designated districts) controlled by Western powers in the late 19th and early 20th century, so many neighbourhoods have buildings in various Western styles.

- Wikivoyage