Pudong

Pudong is a district of Shanghai. It is east of the Huangpu River, which runs through central Shanghai. The name Pudong used to mean the east bank of the Huangpu River. It was across from Puxi, the old city center. Today, Pudong refers to the Pudong New Area. This is a special development zone that reaches all the way to the East China Sea.

The traditional area of Pudong has important places. These include the Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone and the Shanghai Stock Exchange. There are also many famous buildings. Some of these are the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Jin Mao Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Shanghai Tower. These tall buildings face Puxi's historic Bund. The Bund reminds us of old foreign areas in China. The Pudong New Area also has the Port of Shanghai, the Shanghai Expo site, Century Park, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, the Jiuduansha Wetland Nature Reserve, Nanhui New City, and the Shanghai Disney Resort.

History

Pudong means "The East Bank of the Huangpu River". It started as a quiet area of farmland across from Shanghai's old city and foreign parts. For many years, it was only slowly built up, with some warehouses near the water.

In 1990, a leader named Li Peng announced big plans to develop Pudong. He welcomed investors from places like Hong Kong and Taiwan and promised to make it easier for them to work there. Three years later, the government created a special area for business in Pudong, making it easier to grow the local economy and attract money from other countries.

Pudong became known for its tall buildings, like the Jin Mao Building and the Shanghai Tower, which are part of Shanghai's famous skyline. In 2010, Pudong hosted a big world fair called the Shanghai Expo, and the fair grounds are now a public park for everyone to enjoy.

Climate

Pudong has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm, wet weather most of the year. Winds from Siberia, rains, and storms called typhoons affect the area.

The average temperature in Pudong is about 17.2 °C (63 °F) each year. July and August are the warmest months, with temperatures around 28.6 °C (83.5 °F). January is the coldest month, with temperatures around 5.1 °C (41.2 °F).

Government

Pudong is a special district in Shanghai. It is an important financial center in China. The leaders of Pudong work with groups in Shanghai to help the area grow.

In 2015, Pudong began working with a special trade zone to help businesses.

Demographics

Pudong is between the Huangpu River to the west and the East China Sea to the east. It is different from Puxi, the older part of Shanghai.

The 2020 census says Pudong has over 5 million people. The number has grown fast because many people move there to live. Most people live in the northern part, called the "Northern Territory." Fewer people live in the southern part, called the "Southern Territory."

Subdistricts and towns

Further information: List of township-level divisions of Shanghai

Liuzao town is now part of Chuanshaxin town.
Luchaogang town and Shengang Subdistrict came together to create Nanhui Xincheng town.

Name	Chinese (S)	Hanyu Pinyin	Shanghainese Romanization	Population (2010)	Area (km²)
Weifang Xincun Subdistrict	潍坊新村街道	Wéifāng Xīncūn Jiēdào	vij vaon sin tsen ka do	100,548	3.89
Lujiazui Subdistrict	陆家嘴街道	Lùjiāzuǐ Jiēdào	loq ka tzyu ka do	112,507	6.89
Zhoujiadu Subdistrict	周家渡街道	Zhōujiādù Jiēdào	tzoe ka du ka do	144,668	5.52
Tangqiao Subdistrict	塘桥街道	Tángqiáo Jiēdào	daon djio ka do	76,916	3.86
Shanggang Xincun Subdistrict	上钢新村街道	Shànggāng Xīncūn Jiēdào	zaon kaon sin tsen ka do	104,932	7.54
Nanmatou Road Subdistrict	南码头路街道	Nánmǎtóulù Jiēdào	neu mau doe lu ka do	107,130	4.22
Hudong Xincun Subdistrict	沪东新村街道	Hùdōng Xīncūn Jiēdào	wu ton sin tsen ka do	112,031	5.51
Jinyang Xincun Subdistrict	金杨新村街道	Jīnyáng Xīncūn Jiēdào	cin yan sin tsen ka do	206,017	8.02
Yangjing Subdistrict	洋泾街道	Yángjīng Jiēdào	yan cin ka do	146,237	7.38
Puxing Road Subdistrict	浦兴路街道	Pǔxìnglù Jiēdào	phu xin lu ka do	177,468	6.25
Dongming Road Subdistrict	东明路街道	Dōngmínglù Jiēdào	ton min lu ka do	121,449	5.95
Huamu Subdistrict	花木街道	Huāmù Jiēdào	hau moq ka do	221,327	20.93
Chuanshaxin Town* (Chwansha)	川沙新镇	Chuānshāxīn Zhèn	tseu sa sau sin tzen	420,045	148.05
Gaoqiao town	高桥镇	Gāoqiáo Zhèn	ko djio tzen	184,486	38.73
Beicai town	北蔡镇	Běicài Zhèn	poq tsa tzen	276,547	24.91
Heqing town	合庆镇	Héqìng Zhèn	req chin tzen	132,038	41.97
Tang town	唐镇	Tángzhèn	daon tzen	129,267	32.16
Caolu town	曹路镇	Cáolù Zhèn	dzo lu tzen	186,012	45.58
Jinqiao town	金桥镇	Jīnqiáo Zhèn	cin djio tzen	81,537	25.28
Gaohang town	高行镇	Gāoháng Zhèn	ko raon tzen	137,625	22.85
Gaodong town	高东镇	Gāodōng Zhèn	ko ton tzen	110,552	36.24
Zhangjiang town	张江镇	Zhāngjiāng Zhèn	tzan kaon tzen	165,297	42.10
Sanlin town	三林镇	Sānlín Zhèn	se lin tzen	360,516	34.19
Huinan town	惠南镇	Huìnán Zhèn	we neu tzen	213,845	65.24
Zhoupu town	周浦镇	Zhōupǔ Zhèn	tzoe phu tzen	147,329	42.60
Xinchang town	新场镇	Xīnchǎng Zhèn	sin dzan tzen	84,183	54.30
Datuan Town	大团镇	Dàtuán Zhèn	da deu tzen	71,162	50.45
Kangqiao town	康桥镇	Kāngqiáo Zhèn	khaon djio tzen	174,672	41.25
Hangtou town	航头镇	Hángtóu Zhèn	raon doe tzen	110,060	60.40
Zhuqiao town	祝桥镇	Zhùqiáo Zhèn	tzoq djio tzen	104,945	146.28
Nicheng town	泥城镇	Níchéng Zhèn	gnij zen tzen	62,519	61.50
Xuanqiao town	宣桥镇	Xuānqiáo Zhèn	si djio tzen	59,567	45.78
Shuyuan town	书院镇	Shūyuàn Zhèn	syu yeu tzen	59,323	66.90
Wanxiang Town	万祥镇	Wànxiáng Zhèn	ve zian tzen	24,346	23.35
Laogang town	老港镇	Lǎogǎng Zhèn	lo kaon tzen	37,408	38.90
Nanhui Xincheng Town**	南汇新城镇	Nánhuì Xīnchéng Zhèn	neu we sin zen tzen	47,381	67.76
Luchaogang Farm	芦潮港农场	Lúcháogǎng Nóngchǎng	lu dzo kaon non dzan	688	9.40
Donghai Farm	东海农场	Dōnghǎi Nóngchǎng	ton he non dzan	508	15.20
Chaoyang Farm	朝阳农场	Cháoyáng Nóngchǎng	dzo yan non dzan	862	10.67
Waigaoqiao Free-trade Zone	外高桥保税区	Wàigāoqiáo Bǎoshuìqū	nga ko djio po seu chiu	1,349	10.00
Jinqiao Export Processing Zone	金桥经济技术开发区	Jīnqiáo Jīngjì Jìshù Kāifāqū	cin djio cin tzij djij dzeq khe faq chiu	5,514	67.79
Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park	张江高科技园区	Zhāngjiāng Gāo Kējì Yuánqū	tzan kaon ko khu djij yeu chiu	23,617	75.90

Education

Universities and higher education

Primary and secondary schools

New York University Shanghai

Public schools:

No. 2 High School Attached to East China Normal University
Jianping High School
Dongchang High School of ECNU
Pudong Foreign Languages School of Shanghai International Studies University
Shanghai Jincai Experimental Junior Middle School

International schools:

Dulwich College Shanghai
French School of Shanghai Pudong Campus
Nord Anglia International School Shanghai Pudong
German School Shanghai Pudong Campus
Shanghai American School Pudong Campus
Shanghai Japanese School (SJS) Pudong Campus (elementary and junior high), and SJS Senior High School
Wellington College International Shanghai
Concordia International School Shanghai Pudong Campus

Other private schools:

Shanghai Gold Apple Bilingual School
Shanghai Shangde Experimental School
Shanghai Pinghe School

Economy

After Nanhui District joined in May 2009, Pudong's economy grew a lot. In 2025, the area's total economy was about CN¥1.88 trillion (US$263 billion), which is around 33% of Shanghai's economy. In 2022, the average income per person was CN¥323,682, or about US$45,315.

Pudong aerial view.

Pudong has four main economic areas. These include the Lujiazui Trade and Finance Zone, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone—the largest free trade zone in mainland China—covering about 10 square kilometres. There is also the Jinqiao Export Processing Zone and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park for technology businesses.

Pudong keeps growing quickly, especially with new offices. In 2008, over 1.3 million square meters of top-quality office space was finished. Many big investments have gone into buildings and land there.

Pudong area of Shanghai, at night

The newest Disney resort, including a Disneyland, opened in Pudong in June 2016.

Businesses

Bao Steel has its main office in the Bao Steel Tower in Pudong. Comac and Yangtze River Express, a cargo airline, also have their headquarters there. Hang Seng Bank has its mainland offices in the Hang Seng Bank Tower, and Google has its Shanghai offices in the Shanghai World Financial Center.

Transportation

The Shanghai Pudong International Airport opened in 1999. That same year, Line 2 of the Shanghai Metro started running, and it now goes to the airport. Other metro lines also go to parts of Pudong. A special magnetic levitation train began running in 2004, linking the airport to Longyang Road Metro station.

Ships on the Huangpu River with Pudong in view

Pudong connects to downtown Puxi through fourteen tunnels and four big bridges. The first bridges were the Nanpu Bridge in 1991 and the Yangpu Bridge in 1993. The Xupu Bridge opened in 1996, and the newest is the Lupu Bridge, finished in 2002. It is the world's second longest arch bridge. Many new tunnels have been built, especially near the Lujiazui area.