Shanghai is the most-populous city in China and the country's global financial hub. It is situated on the eastern coast of the country. Shanghai is one of the world's most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities. It is China's economic, transportation, and cultural centre. Since the late 19th century, Shanghai is renowned for influencing other cities around the world. It is famous for its astounding colonial buildings and modern structures that stand side by side to complement each other. Some of the places that make it famous include the ancient Yuyuan Garden, the Bund, Nanjing Road, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and the skyscrapers of Pudong.

Census in China is done every 10 years and 2020 was the last time that it was conducted. The next census is scheduled for 2030. According to the 2020 census, Shanghai had a population of 24,281,400. Compared to other cities in China, Shanghai is considered to be more diverse. According to 2020 census, 99.7% of the population is Han Chinese in Shanghai. When it comes to religious beliefs, Shanghai is known to be diverse as most people identify themselves as Buddhist, Taoist, or non-religious. According to data collected during the 2020 census, 10% of people in Shanghai identified themselves as Buddhist, 2% as Christian, 1% as Muslim, and 87% declared that they followed no religion. As one of the most diverse cities in China, Shanghai houses over 24 million residents, who collectively speak over 10 dialects, including Shanghainese, Mandarin, Cantonese, and of course English. Shanghai is known for its iconic buildings. The Shanghai Tower is the world's second-tallest building by height to architectural top.

Shanghai is administered as a direct-controlled municipality of the People's Republic of China, which means it has the same level of autonomy as a province. The city is divided into 16 county-level divisions: 15 districts and 1 county. Each of these divisions has its own local government led by a mayor. The Shanghai Municipal People's Government is the highest governmental authority in the city. It is headed by the Mayor of Shanghai. The government's responsibilities include urban planning, public transport, environment and sanitation, and maintaining public order.

Shanghai's economy is one of the most robust in the world. The city has always been a commercial hub and today enjoys the status of having one of the largest city economies in the world. The city thrives in trade and commerce and has a vibrant culture seeped in commerce. It has a GDP of over $3.7 trillion, which is about 25 percent of China's total GDP. The size of its economy is larger than that of several countries. The Port of Shanghai is the world's busiest container port, handling 43.3 million TEUs of cargo in 2020.

Shanghai has an impressive infrastructure plan for the future. The city has already made significant strides with its advanced public transportation system, including the world's largest metro system and the first commercial high-speed Maglev train. It also boasts of state-of-the-art digital connectivity with widespread high-speed broadband access. However, the city continues to face challenges due to its rapid growth, including urban sprawl, traffic congestion, and environmental issues. The government has taken note of these issues and has plans to address them through various initiatives, such as the construction of new eco-cities, expansion of public transportation, and promotion of green technologies.