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China, with its $2.5 trillion GDP, a high growth rate, and more than $1 trillion reserve, has become the third largest economy after U.S.and Japan in the 21st century. Shanghai, China’s largest city, in its unique historical and geographical position, is the center for economic power, foreign trade, modern infrastructure, and commercial and industrial growth as well as the world’s largest cargo port.
After almost two-year bull market, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which tracks both A and B shares, recorded a dismal performance since October 2007. In 2008, The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) suffered an annual loss of over 60%, plunging from 4380 points to 1820 points and being the worst performing market in Asia. SSE Governor Geng Liang and President Zhang Yujun attended SSE’s sixth annual Press Symposium early April, and Geng
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Shanghai, China’s largest commercial center, is the home for several thousands of skyscrapers, the unique architecture of theYuyuan Garden, and the world’s third tallest building, the 101 storied Shanghai WorldFinancial Center. The city has gone through tremendous changes in its real estate sector for the past two decades. Shanghai real estate market has experienced a robust growth since 1990s except a few downturns including the 1999 and 2005 dips. Despite concerns on rising taxes and sales restrictions, demand has remained high until recently. The continued economic prosperity has further sustained the city’s real estate market boom, and Shanghai remains a top real estate market in China in terms of sales volumes, floor spaces, and top real estates companies’ total assets. Until recently,Shanghai real estate market shows no sign of slowing down.
Shanghai real estate market had a strong growth in 2007, and the Chinese government implemented the land appreciation tax and imposed additional restrictions on foreign investment in the sector. Just when it looked like the boom would go on forever, the average housing price in 70 cities suffered consecutive monthly decline during the second half of 2008, and for some cities, year 2008 was the worst in the past ten years. To combate the impact of
Before you embark your journey to Shanghai, you may have a number of travel decisions to make. Besides airlines, hotels and restaurants, you may wonder which part of Shanghai you will stay? Is it in Puxi, urban Shanghai on the west bank of the Huangpu River, or Pudong new district on the east bank of the River? Which central business districts would you prefer to stay close? Just name a few: the Bund, the ever enchanting waterfront epicenter for business and finance, overlooking the Oriental Pearl Tower and Jin Mao Tower on the opposite side of the River; or Xujiahui in the historical French Concession, which is one of the most prestigious residential areas, and also where Shanghai Stadium, one of the largest football stadiums in the world, is located; or Hongqiao/Gubei, the expat community close to the Hongqiao airport; or Lujiazui finance and trade zone.
Whether it is Central Park in NYC, or Duff Park in Murrysville, PA, a park gives visitors a serene place to relax and exercise after a long day of work or on a sunny weekend afternoon. When you visit a metropolis like Shanghai, going to a park may be the last thing on your mind, but the green spaces offer a decent escape that few can match. On an area of over 6,340.50 km2 or 2,448.1 sq m, with a population of 20 million, Shanghai has over 100 parks (Pinyin: Gong Yuan). Those green mouths of the city are full of characters, often perfectly manicured, and great places to shade you from the loud, the crowded, the frenetic traffic nearby or simply a few very enthusiastic street vendors.
