Shanghai Geography

Geographical Location

Shanghai is located on the east tip of Yangtze River Delta and halfway along China's eastern coastline. Based on Shanghai geography, It borders the estuary of Yangtze River to the north, Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces to the west and Hangzhou Bay to the south. Due to its advantageous geographical location, Shanghai has become a large and prosperous port city. Hereunder are the Shanghai geography features/characteristics:

Panoramic View of Pudong Shanghai
Panoramic View of Pudong Shanghai
  
Bird''s Eye View of Shanghai
Oriental Pearl TV Tower & Jinmao Tower

Geographical Facts & Characteristics

Yangtze River Delta

The lower reaches of the Yangtze River running through the city bring lots of mud and sand to its estuary. The wind, the river flow and the tide jointly account for the alluvial plain including today's Yangtze River Delta.

Shanghai landform on the east tip of the delta covers an area of 6,340.5 square kilometers (2,448.1 square miles). The altitude of the city lies between three and five meters. With comparatively soft and loose earth, the city has a slightly higher coastal area in the east and a lower hinterland to the west. The area around Dianshan Lake in the west of the city is the lowest. Plains cover most areas in its middle and east part including the city zone and part of Jiading, Minghang, Fengxian and Jinshan Districts.
 

Hills & Small Mountains

There are a few hills and small mountains in the southwest Qingpu and Songjiang Districts, including Tianma Mountain, Fenghuang Mountain, Hengshan Mountain and Xiaokunshan Mountain. This is another landscape features of Shanghai.
 

Offshore Islands

In additional, there are some offshore islands in the area of Shanghai geography, such as Dajinshan Island, Xiaojinshan Island and Fushan Island. Among them, Dajinshan with an altitude of 103.4 meters is the peak. There are three alluvial islands of Chongming, Changxing and Hengsha in the estuary of Yangtze River to the north of Shanghai mainland. Changxing and Hengsha are small islands under the jurisdiction of Baoshan District. Chongming is the only county of Shanghai. With an area of 1,041.21 square kilometers, the island is the third largest in China.
 

Densest Water Network

Huangpu RiverThe water network inside the city is the densest and the most developed in China. A lot of rivers and lakes in the city provide sufficient water to facilitate the transportation and irrigation. The Yangtze River running eastwards to the sea through the north suburbs of the city is one of the main rivers. Huangpu River, the 'Mother River of Shanghai', is the last main tributary of the Yangtze River. Originating from the Taihu Lake in Jiangsu Province, Huangpu River runs through the city zone. Being wide, deep and never freezing, it contributes a lot to the city's transportation. Huangpu River has many tributaries such as Wusong River (alias Suzhou River). Wusong River with various historical monuments and buildings along its banks offers an important link between Shanghai and its hinterland. Dianshan Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the west Qingpu District, producing various aquatic products.
 

Lack of Natural resources

Shanghai geographical facts decide that natural resources are not abundant in the region. Natural vegetation is hardly seen except in a few areas such as Dajinshan Island, Sheshan Mountain and some cays and bottomlands. There are just cultivated crops, trees and flowers. The area is not a good habitat for wild animals, so animals there are always domestic. Shanghai also lacks mineral resources and energy sources. Only crude oil and natural gas are found in the offing of East China Sea and south Yellow Sea nearby.

- Last updated on Jun. 19, 2024 -
Questions & Answers on Shanghai Geography
Asked by Claire | Sep. 12, 2024 02:22Reply
What are the manmade geographical features of Shanghai?
Answers (1)
Answered by Keith | Sep. 12, 2024 22:57
00Reply


The biggest feature should be the high skyline, like Shanghai Tower, Oriental Pearl Tower, World Financial Center, Jin Mao Tower, Lupu Bridge ...
Asked by David | Jun. 19, 2024 16:37Reply
Is there a natural landscape in beijing and do u reccomend going there?
Answers (1)
Answered by Daniel | Jun. 19, 2024 23:13
00Reply


Yanqi Lake and Gubei Watertwon are pretty popular and recommended. For more, you can check here: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/
Asked by Ashrah from USA | Jan. 23, 2023 17:39Reply
How can i learn mandarin within a month
I want to learn mandarin and travel to shanghai to meet and talk to the meteor garden cast but i dont know how to speak the language
Answers (1)
Answered by Lisa | Jan. 30, 2023 17:38
00Reply


I don't think one can acquire Chinese within a month, maybe only some basics. It will be much easier to hire a translator.
Asked by Trinity Hobson from UNITED STATES | Oct. 23, 2018 11:09Reply
I’d really like to go to Hangzhou Bay on my trip in Shanghai, do you recommend it?
Answers (3)
Answered by Hannah from USA | Oct. 23, 2018 23:10
00Reply


Do you means the Hangzhou Bay economic and technological development zone? If yes, I won't recommend it to you because there are almost no attractions that can be visited. You are advised to take a tour to the Bund, Yuyuan Garden and Disneyland.
Answered by Dave from Denver from USA | Aug. 06, 2019 08:31
00Reply


Hangzhou has beautiful West Lake (XIHU) which is worth a visit all by itself. Hangzhou bay funnels down to the Qiantang River. Time your visit right and you will see the incredible Silver Dragon, the world's biggest tidal bore. This is one place where "watching the tide come in" is a heart-pounding sight. Watch it on YouTube to get a sense of its power.
Answered by Kkm | Nov. 18, 2021 18:15
00Reply


I would recommend it but I wouldn't probably go to Hangzhou bay because there aren't too much amazing features there. There aren't as much as yuyuan. There is a lot there.😉
Asked by Meghan O Stalnaker from UNITED STATES | Jan. 18, 2018 11:53Reply
what are the unique natural or human made features that I would see in the middle of shanghai?
Answers (1)
Answered by Amenda from UK | Jan. 18, 2018 21:02
21Reply


For natural views, you can enjoy the Huangpu River on the Bund, and go to Yuyuan Garden. Man-made masterpieces in downtown include the buildings and complex on the Bund, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and Jinmao Tower.
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