Envisioning Shanghai's future

Shanghai is planning to upgrade itself comprehensively so as to be competitive globally and on par with New York and London, according to its blueprint for development till 2040.

Shanghai will position itself as a "pioneer" of urban economic powerhouses by developing the Yangtze River Delta as a world-class cluster of cities, according to its development schedule published in June by the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic planner.

The new cluster comprises 26 cities, including Shanghai, and parts of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces.