上海地处长江三角洲前缘，正当我国南北海岸线的中部，地理位置优越。这里平均海拔高度为4米左右，属热带季风气候，四季分明，日照充分，雨量充沛。中国第三大岛崇明岛就在上海。
Shanghai is on the tip of the Yangtze Delta, in the middle of China's coastline running down from the north to the south. It is very well located. Shanghai averages about 4 metres above sea level. It has a tropical monsoon climate, with four different seasons, plenty of sunshine and good rainfall. The third largeset island in China, the Chongming Island, is within Shanghai's territory.
上海的面积从1949年的636.18平方公里增至现在的6340.5平方公里，人口从1949年的520万人，增至现在的1327.14万人。上海正向着现代化国际大都市的目标迈进，肩负着面向世界、服务全国的重任。
Shanghai has grown from about 636.18 square kilomatres in 1949 to about 6,340 square kilometres today. Its population has grown from 5.2 million in 1949 to about 13.27 million today. Shanghai is striving towards its goal of becoming a modern, international metropolitan city. It is China's window to the world and a pwerhouse of the Chinese economy.
中国改革开放以来，上海国民经济保持经济快速增长势头。2001年全市GDP总值4950.80亿元，人均GDP突破4500美元，全年货物吞吐量2.21亿吨，出口总额276.28亿美元，财政收入1995.62亿元，社会固定资产投资1984.31亿元。国内生产总值连续10年保持10%以上的增长率。
After the reform and opening up, Shanghai's economy has maintained rapid growth. In 2001, its GDP was 495 billion yuan. Its per capita GDP broke through 4,500 US dollars barrier. It handled 221 million tonnes of cargo. It exported 276 million US dollars worth of goods and services. It brought in 199.56 billion yuan of tax revenue and invested 198.43 billion yuan in fixed assets. Its GDP growth has been at over 10% a year for 10 consecutive years.
上海的工业总产值占全国1/12，港口货物吞吐量占全国1/10，口岸进出口商品额占全国1/4，财政收入占全国1/8。上海为全国现代化建设作出了重大的贡献。
Shanghai is responsible for one twelfth of China's industrial output, one tenth of cargo handling, a quarter of imports and exports, and one eighth of the tax revenue. Shanghai has been making substantial contributios to the modernisation of China.
上海作为一个国际化的大都市，交通十分发达。有通往世界59个城市国际的航线和14条海上国际航线，两个国际机场;有中国最大的港口，与世界上200多个国家和地区的1100多港口建立航运关系;有各种铁路线近百条。便利的交通，促进了上海与世界各国的交往。
Shanghai is an international city with excellent transport links. It has airline routes to 59 cities in the world, 14 international sea routes. There are 2 international airports and it hs the biggest port in China, linking up with over 1,100 ports in over 200 countries and regions. There are nearly one hundred railway lines. Shanghai's excellent transport links have benefited its relationship with the rest of the world.
上海拥有全国领先的现代化教育体系。全市普通高等院校32所，成人高校37所，高等职业技术学院5所，中等职校267所。上海在“十五”期间将不断地完善终身教育体系，加快优秀人才培养和集聚，形成人才资源高地。
Shanghai leads China with its modern education system. There are 32 institutions of higher education, 37 adult colleges, 5 senior trade and technical colleges and 267 mid-range trade and technical schools. In the Tenth Five Year Plan, Shanghai will continue to improve its lifelong learning system, accelerate the training and gathering of talents, in order to build up a large pool of human resources.
上海是一个金融发达的城市。中国人民银行、中国银行、中国工商银行、中国建设银行、中国农业银行、交通银行等设立的分行，以及众多的证券交易网点遍布大街小巷。更值得一提的是，已有诸多的外国银行在上海设立了分行和办事机构。
Shanghai is a highly developed financial city. The People's Bank of China, the Bank of China, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the Construction Bank of China, the Agricultural Bank of China and the Communication Bank of China all have branches in Shanghai. Together with the share dealing networks, they are everywhere. It is particularly worth mentioning here that many foreign banks have set up branches and offcies in Shanghai.
上海有良好的投资环境和优惠的投资政策，涉及十多个领域的几十个行业。还有产品全部直接出口的特许待遇。为了鼓励外国投资，凡从事投资额大、回收期长的项目，比如能源、交通基础设施的建设和经营者，除一般外资待遇之外，还有特别优惠。
Shanghai has an excellent investment environment and excellent policies, covering dozens of sectors in more than ten industries. There are also concessions for products that are solely destined for export. In order to encourage foreign investment, if you invest in large projects that take a long time to recover investment, for example in the construction and operation of energy and transport infrastructures, you will be entitled to special concessions in addition to the benefits enjoyed by foreign investors.