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Shanghai: China's Economic Powerhouse

How this city happens to be the WEALTHIEST in China

Destination:ChinaCity:ShanghaiPopulation: 24.9 million
How this city happens to be the WEALTHIEST in China
Rafa Goes Around!12 min

How this city happens to be the WEALTHIEST. This was filmed by Rafa Goes Around!. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

A city of 25 million people, with more than 25000 buildings standing 12 floors or more, it has more high rises than anywhere else. It is also the most important economic engine in China, and right here the pace of civilizational transformation is more evident than anywhere else. A seductive display of China’s power, this is Shanghai.

--- Rafa Goes Around!
August 31, 2024, Summer in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Rafa Goes Around traces Shanghai's urban transformation from the early 1990s to its modern skyline. The route includes Pudong, Shanghai Tower, the Fome Foundation, Shanghai Library East, the Jing'an Apple Store, 1000 Trees and the Oriental Pearl Tower. The video links the city's growth to foreign investment and features buildings designed by Foster + Partners, including the Fome Foundation's changing facade. It also looks beyond concrete and glass at sponge city parks, flood management, water treatment and tree planting. Shanghai's architecture appears as a mix of ambitious towers, new developments and public green spaces.

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How this city happens to be the WEALTHIEST in China

Shanghai's rise and skyline

Rafa Goes Around introduces Shanghai, described in the source as China's wealthiest city, as a place shaped by rapid growth. The video looks back to the early 1990s, when local leaders recognized the opportunities that foreign investment could bring and called Shanghai the dragon's head of China's modernization. Between the 1990s and 2010s, the source says the city's economy grew by an average of 7 to 15 percent annually. The skyline reflects that development, with Shanghai Tower, Shanghai Finance Center and Oriental Pearl Tower among the landmarks. At the time of filming, Shanghai Tower was described as China's tallest building and as having the world's highest observation deck. Its fast elevators and sustainable design are also discussed.

Buildings, public space and climate

The route takes in the Pudong area, Shanghai Library East and the Jing'an Apple Store before reaching the Fome Foundation, designed by Foster + Partners and opened in 2019. Its moving facade changes throughout the day and is designed to resemble bamboo. Along Suzhou Creek, 1000 Trees combines mixed-use space with planted areas. The video also considers Shanghai's green projects: sponge city parks are used for flood control and water treatment, while tree planting adds vegetation across the city. These places show how the urban landscape includes cultural references and green infrastructure alongside high-rise construction. Rafa's walk connects individual buildings to the city's wider transformation and its efforts to address flooding and climate risks.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: What is the Fome Foundation known for?
A: The Fome Foundation opened in 2019 and was designed by Foster + Partners. Its moving facade changes through the day and is designed to resemble bamboo.
Q: What is Shanghai's sponge city initiative for?
A: The source describes sponge city parks as projects for flood control and water treatment, alongside extensive tree planting.
Q: What does the video show at 1000 Trees?
A: The development along Suzhou Creek combines mixed-use urban space and nature, and is presented as architecture designed to harmonize with its environment.

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Shanghai: China's Economic Powerhouse

A city of 25 million people, with more than 25000 buildings standing 12 floors or more, it has more high rises than anywhere else. It is also the most important economic engine in China, and right here the pace of civilizational transformation is more evident than anywhere else, A seductive display...

Shanghai Architecture: Modern Marvels & Urban Transformation

Discover the awe-inspiring Shanghai, China's wealthiest city! With over 25,000 buildings towering 12 floors or more, it boasts an unparalleled skyline. Experience the pulse of China's economic powerhouse, where modernization is palpable. Shanghai's captivating display of power and progress will leave you breathless.

Attractions in this video: Shanghai Tower, Oriental Pearl Tower, Jing An Temple, 1000 Trees Development, Shanghai Library East, Shanghai Astronomy Museum