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Pudong

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Pudong is a massive, high-importance district located in Shanghai, China.

Shanghai - Planet Imagery
Shanghai - Planet Imagery

It sits on the east bank of the Huangpu River. This river flows through the center of Shanghai. To the east, the district extends all the way to the East China Sea.

Huangpu River-The Bund
Huangpu River-The Bund

While the west bank, known as Puxi, contains the historic city center, Pudong has become a global center for finance and trade. It is officially classified as a state-level new area. This status highlights its vital role in the modern Chinese economy.

The landscape of Pudong is defined by extreme urban development and diverse functional zones. The western tip contains the Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone. This area serves as a primary financial hub for modern China. Further out, the district contains essential infrastructure like the Port of Shanghai. It also houses the Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Other zones include the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park and the Shanghai Disney Resort.

Pudong area of Shanghai, at night
Pudong area of Shanghai, at night

Natural spaces like Century Park and the Jiuduansha Wetland Nature Reserve also exist within its borders.

The skyline of Pudong is one of its most famous features. Many skyscrapers are located along Century Avenue. These structures directly face the historic Bund area in Puxi. A notable group includes the world's first trio of adjacent supertall skyscrapers. These are the Jin Mao Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Shanghai Tower. The Oriental Pearl Tower is another iconic landmark in this area. Together, these buildings create the most common skyline seen in Shanghai.

Pudong area of Shanghai, at night
Pudong area of Shanghai, at night

Historically, Pudong was a much less developed region. The name literally means "the east bank of the Huangpu River." Originally, the land consisted mainly of farmland. The area was managed by districts on the west bank, such as Huangpu, Yangpu, and Nanshi. Pudong was established as a county in 1958. However, it was split into different counties by 1961. A major turning point occurred on April 18, 1990. On this date, Premier Li Peng announced a policy to open Pudong for development. This event is often described as Pudong's "birthday."

Following this announcement, the government took steps to build economic confidence. In 1992, the original Pudong County and Chuansha County merged. This merger created the Pudong New Area. In 1993, the government established a Special Economic Zone in Chuansha. This helped create the modern Pudong New Area. The area was designed to have even more open policies than existing Special Economic Zones. These policies aimed to attract foreign direct investment and grow the local economy. In 2009, the Nanhui District was also merged into Pudong. This merger expanded the district to comprise most of eastern Shanghai.

The population of Pudong has grown rapidly due to high levels of immigration. According to the 2020 census, the population was 5,681,512 inhabitants. This was 1.85 million more people than were recorded in 2010. This growth represents about 22.8 percent of the total population of Shanghai. The population density is 3,006 people per square kilometer. About three-quarters of the residents live in the northern part, called the "Northern Territory." The remaining quarter lives in the "Southern Territory," which was formerly the Nanhui District.

NYUShanghai
NYUShanghai

Economically, Pudong is a powerhouse. In 2024, its gross domestic product was estimated at CN¥1.73 trillion. This is approximately US$238.13 billion. The output from its three leading industries is projected to reach CN¥840 billion. In 2022, the GDP per capita was CN¥281,180. This value is about US$41,755 at nominal rates. The climate in the district is humid subtropical. It is classified as Cfa under the Köppen climate system. The weather is influenced by monsoons, Siberian winds, and Pacific typhoons. Temperatures are highest in July and August, and lowest in January.

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File:NYUShanghai.jpg
NYUShanghai.jpg
File:Shanghai - Planet Imagery.jpg
Shanghai - Planet Imagery.jpg
File:Pudong area of Shanghai, at night.jpg
Pudong area of Shanghai, at night.jpg
File:Huangpu River-The Bund.JPG
Huangpu River-The Bund.JPG
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