Shanghai
Shanghai is a paradox, both an anachronism and a look towards the future. The Pearl of the Orient has a rich history, replete with multiculturalism and international intrigue. After the Communist takeover, Shanghai hibernated, before beginning to reemerge in the past decade. Since Deng Xiaoping proclaimed Shanghai to be the head of the new Chinese dragon, the city has undergone a complete facelift, with a booming economy that accounts for nearly twenty percent of China's gross national product.
These happy days are reminiscent of Shanghai's past. The city was divided up into small, independent, autonomous concessions, with a British section, a French section, and an American section. While part of Shanghai remained Chinese, many locals chose to interact with the Westerners, and Shanghai became known as the Paris of the East. The Communist Party was born in Shanghai, and after it came to power in 1949, the city closed its doors to the outside world until recently.
Sixteen million people call Shanghai home today. The city is poised to become China's international face of the future, and a construction boom is fueling that feeling. The Pudong New Area is being transformed from farmland into the city's economic center. Shanghai's stock market is found here, along with some of the tallest buildings in the entire world. In just fifteen years, the number of high-rise office buildings has increased tenfold, and that number is still growing. This burgeoning economy has again attracted people from around the world, allowing the old spirit of Shanghai to re-infect people. The city has come full circle.
Pusan
Located between the mountains and the sea, Pusan is Korea's second largest city, a vibrant port city booming with population growth and industry. Today, its more than 4 million inhabitants help create a fast paced environment of work and play. Much of the city's economy is supported by the fishing industry. And from boat making to fishing, visitors to Pusan get the feeling that all of the locals are involved in making the city run.
Pusan is famous for its dramatic skyline and the mountainous ring that encircles the city. Visitors to Pusan gush about the city's picture-perfect beaches, its white sands and gorgeous cliffs. This is a place that seamlessly incorporates a busy mass urban culture with an obvious respect and love of nature and serenity. Tourists can choose the pace at which they experience this city, and rest assured that there is something for everyone here. Whether you are an avid shopper, a food connoisseur, or just looking to relax on a beach or take a hike, you will be impressed by the choices you have here. Many tourists like to begin their day buying fresh seafood at the harbor, and then enjoying a morning shopping for Korean folk art. Afternoons offer endless possibilities to see the historical sites here, and evenings are a time for leisure.
Climate is one of the city's greatest assets. Pusan remains relatively mild all year long, and even summer, which is the rainy season, offers a tropical and vacation-friendly climate. The air is warm, the land is lovely, and the people are friendly.
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