Pudong
Pudong New Area, known locally as “The Pearl of the Orient”, is the epitome of China’s recent modernization and international outlook. On the back of the reformative “Four Centres Initiative”, that has seen led to the development of Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, and Jin Qiao Export Processing Zone, and the establishment of the China Pilot Free Trade Zone the district is on the verge of becoming a truly forward-looking modern urban area. Pudong New Area is located just east of the Huangpu River across from the historic city centre, Puxi. The area currently has a population of just over five million (2010 census) with many of the residents being newcomers from other provinces or cities in China. The districts core functions are built around finance, shipping and trade centres and this is emphasised by the accelerated rate of construction of high-level infrastructure in recent years – such as the Shanghai Tower and Yangshan Port. Efforts are being made to increase the rate of clustering of headquarters of multinational corporations, state-owned enterprises and domestic private enterprises, and also in establishing the functions of integrated operations, investment management, marketing and sales, settlement centres, R&D and innovation. Over the last ten years, Pudong New Area has developed more than 1000km of transportation network. The district is connected to Puxi by several bridges and tunnels and is supported by a robust system that is composed of major thoroughfares, ten metro lines and the Shanghai Maglev train. Pudong’s urban transportation means that it is convenient for people living either side of the Huangpu River and that the area has been able to flourish with ease. Pudong is currently served by following ten Metro lines: Lines 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 of the Shanghai Metro running east-west, line 6 running north-south, and line 16 linking Pudong urban area with the main counties of Nanhui District. The Shanghai Maglev, the first in commercial operation in the world, and runs to and from Pudong International Airport – the thirty kilometre journey takes just eight minutes. The Pudong International Airport is one of the largest international airports in Asia, trumped only by Beijing International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport, and has well over 500 landings a day.