As a municipality directly administered by the People's Republic of China, Shanghai has grown from its historic core as one of the four treaty ports opened during the First Opium War in the 19th century. Today, it's a global powerhouse and third most populous city worldwide, housing over 24 million residents in the embrace of the Yangtze River estuary and the Huangpu River.

Traffic buzzes beneath the illuminated height of world-class skyscrapers, and its trading port, the busiest in the world, keeps a steady rhythm day and night. Thanks to economic reforms in the 90s, Shanghai has reclaimed its importance as an international hub for trade and finance. The Shanghai Stock Exchange is a testament to its financial prowess, and the city houses 12 of the Fortune Global 500 companies.

World-renowned for its architectural masterpieces of Art Deco and Shikumen styles, Shanghai is also known for its cuisine's sweet notes and a vibrant international flair that spices the distinctive local language. The "Paris of The East" and the "Pearl of the Orient" are just some of the nicknames that the sweet sea city has collected over time, reflecting its history and connection to the sea and its status as a cultural icon.