Economy

Its location at the seaward end of the densely settled and highly productive Yangtze River valley has helped make Shanghai China's leading port and commercial city. Most of central China's goods destined for foreign or domestic ports pass through Shanghai, as do manufactured products headed for China's interior.

As a manufacturing city, Shanghai ranks first in China and among the most important in Asia. It has long been a center of light industry, especially the making of textiles. In the early 1960's the Chinese government began intensive efforts to develop heavy industry in Shanghai. Many factories were enlarged and modernized and new ones were built. Shanghai is a major producer of iron and steel, ships, motor vehicles, chemicals, electrical equipment, petroleum products, and such consumer goods as electric appliances, bicycles, and paper goods. Shanghai is also a major printing and publishing center.

Three major transportation routes—two railways and the Yangtze River—link Shanghai with the interior. The Yangtze is navigable by large ships for 630 miles (1,010 km) to Wuhan. Hongqiao International Airport, southwest of the city, is one of China's largest air terminals.