China: By Journalist Eye XXI: City The Best

And to impressions stuck deep in our mind, our Chinese government hosts prepared for us by the greatest possible shock. A few hours on the plane and we find ourselves on the place, that is contrary from centuries following. We are in Shanghai, the megalopolis that is synonymous with many superlatives and the very best...

Shanghai is the most populous city of China. Official population data varies, in the local conditions and the migration is not surprising, 23 million people but is the most acceptable. With this is related the status of the city in which there is most shops throughout the Kingdom of middle.

Other "first" belong to industrial production. China is on its industrial navel duly proud Shanghai people and city visitors but it feels appropriate. We are at the place with the most polluted air and water flows across the country and worldwide chart "Ropák" is on “beautiful” 4^th place.

Shanghai crosses the mighty Yangtze Jiang, which here after 6300 kilometres of travelling flows into the East China Sea. We are so lucky to watch boats, boats, steamers and all kinds of other vessels in China's longest river, the longest river across Eurasia and longest mighty world after the Amazon and the Nile.

Shanghai is also China's largest marina with 100 berths for naval vessels. With an annual turnover of 380 million tons of cargo in 2004 overtook traditional Rotterdam and reached the position of the largest port in the world.

City, which in the last century was dubbed the Queen of the Orient, the boasted other "firsts" and records, outruns likes itself. For example, here since 1998, climbed to the highest heavens structure of contemporary China - 427meters Jin Mao skyscraper with 88 floors (two eights were not random - for the Chinese is a very lucky number). Building of World Financial Centre broke it after 12 years.

New building of glass and steel with 101 floors, measures a little over 492 meters and its floors are indeed of offices, shops and a hotel as well as a multi-tower at the top. A new Chinese giant at the time of its opening deserved awards of architects commission - it's the most beautiful skyscraper built in 2010.

The largest agglomeration in the world and is at the forefront in the transport area. Since 2004 there travellers almost fly from outskirts of Shanghai to Pudong International Airport. They are transported by lightning fast Maglev train, which uses a magnetic levitation technology cushions and reaches incredible speeds of up to 431 kilometres per hour. To get an idea - it is much more than speed of formula 1pilots.

The list of Shanghai "best" is certainly lengthy, for example, I can´t forget to say that it is also together with Beijing most expensive city in China and one of the most expensive places to live in the world. A chapter is then completely last tracked worldwide Chinese, respectively BEST Shanghai - EXPO 2010...

Text/photo: Andrea Fantová