Shanghai, China | World’s Best Cities

Shanghai, China

Within the dynamic metropolis of Shanghai, contrasts unfold. On one side of the Huangpu River lies the refined Puxi district, housing the city’s Art Deco architectural marvels, the waterfront Bund promenade and traditional Chinese gardens. On the opposite side, the Pudong area showcases its mind-boggling, otherworldly skyscrapers. Shanghai today is a major global hub for everything from finance, business, research, technology and manufacturing to arts and culture. 

It’s also home to the world’s busiest container port. Challenges abound, from air pollution and impoverished slums to a growing vulnerability to rising sea levels. Nevertheless, the city scores high in our overall Prosperity index (#4), with the second-highest number of billionaire residents on the planet, at 113, helping the cause. To say nothing of its #2 ranking in our Business Ecosystem subcategory and #4 for Fortune 500 companies. The “Shanghai 2035” plan, approved by state council, envisions a metropolis characterized by innovation, humanity, sustainability and global influence—effectively putting the city on a rising path by focusing on onboarding more citizens into the ever-sprouting skyscrapers they look up at daily (at least when the smog clears).

A host of initiatives shaping the city’s skyline and cultural fabric include the North Bund Development Project, set for completion in 2025, that aims to rival the city’s gilded Lujiazui district with 90 million square feet of office, retail and residential space, further solidifying Shanghai’s status as a global financial hub. Meanwhile, the Xuhui Riverside Green Space, completed in early 2024, offers a sprawling four-mile waterfront park replete with walking paths, art installations and performance venues, providing a lush escape in the heart of the city. The city’s #13 Nature & Parks ranking and a Tree Cover spot well outside our Top 100 needs all the green space it can get.

Luxury hospitality is also thriving. The recently opened Janu Shanghai and Bulgari Hotel Shanghai fuse opulent design with contemporary amenities, catering to high-end travelers and business elites. The Longhua Temple Night Market, launched in 2024, revives historic traditions with modern flair. Meanwhile, upgrades to the #1-ranked Pudong International Airport—including a new satellite terminal by 2026—promise to enhance connectivity and efficiency, reinforcing Shanghai’s position as a nexus of global commerce and culture.