Shanghai, China’s Modern Metropolis

With a population of more than 20 million, Shanghai is not only China's largest city, but also ranks as the world's 2nd largest metropolitan center with Mumbai as the only city boasting a larger urban population.  While Shanghai's distinctly modern urban fabric sets it apart from many cities in China, it still possesses architectural elements of ancient China, striking a beautiful balance between past and present. Unique to Shanghai though is a historical recognition of China's brief colonial past, embodied through the liveliness of areas such as the Bund or the French Concession.