China today is one of the world’s largest, fastest growing and most influential economies. At the center of this rapidly developing economy, is the city of Shanghai which is the largest city in China. In fact the populous city of Shanghai, which is home to more than 20 million people, is the epicenter of trade and finance in China. This vibrant and exciting city which is located at the mouth of the great Yangtze River is also one of the busiest cargo ports in the world which in terms of container traffic is the second to only Singapore, the busiest port in the world.

Since the introduction of economic reforms in China in the early 1980’s, Shanghai has grown at a blistering pace and the city which straddles both sides of the Huangpu River is toady a vast, modern metropolis whose skyline is littered with towering skyscrapers. Shanghai is the financial hub of China and it is home to one of the fastest growing stock exchanges in the world, the Shanghai Stock Exchange.Apart from being a financial hub, Shanghai is also a major destination for the headquarters of several multinational corporations who have a presence on the Chinese mainland and the rest of Asia. It is estimated that more than 100 western companies like General Motors, McDonald’s, and FedEx have their Asia Pacific headquarters in Shanghai, a city which was once known as ‘the Pearl of the Orient’.

Shanghai’s main business district is located within a special economic zone called the Pudong New Area located which on the east bank of the Huangpu River. Pudong faces the Puxi area or old Shanghai which is located on the west bank of the Huangpu River. Puxi is home to the Bund which is the most popular tourist attraction in Shanghai populated as it with several historic buildings. The Pudong New Area characterizes the ambition of ‘New China’ as it has within its environs the Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone and the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Pudong’s brash, show-off skyline features several towering sky-scrapers like the oddly shaped Oriental Pearl Tower, the 88 storey Jin Mao Building which hosts the Grand Hyatt hotel, the 101 storey tall Shanghai World Financial Center which hosts the world’s highest hotel, the Park Hyatt Shanghai and the soon-to-be-completed Shanghai Tower which is expected to top 632 meters when it opens in 2014.

Aside from the Pudong New Area, Shanghai has within its boundaries numerous industrial zones like the Shanghai Hongqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone, the Jinqiao Export Economic Processing Zone, the Minhang Economic and Technological Development Zone, and Shanghai Caohejing High and New Technological Development Zone. All this frenzied business activity has made Shanghai an extremely important destination on the business traveler’s map as CEOs, entrepreneurs, celebrity chefs and businessmen of all types head to China in order to access the vast Chinese domestic market and to avail of its large manufacturing base. This business travel traffic is only bound to increase over the next year when Shanghai hosts the World Expo 2010 from the 1st of May to the 31st of October 2010.

To cater to this year round business travel traffic, Shanghai is equipped with two international airports, the Pudong and the Hongquio, though only the Pudong airport is used for international flights while the older Hongquio caters to largely to domestic traffic. Hectic construction activity during recent years has also furnished the city with numerous luxury hotels whose rooms are kitted out with the expected modern conveniences like in-room Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV screens and rainforest showerheads apart from several other luxuries like rooftop bars, Jacuzzis, tai-chi courtyards and all pampering day-spas. Almost all the world’s leading hotel chains have a presence in Shanghai like the Grand Hyatt, the Shangri La, the St Regis, the Westin and the Portman Ritz Carlton and they are soon to be joined by other popular chains like the W Hotels, Banyan Tree and The Waldorf-Astoria.

If your company like several US companies already has a presence in China or if your company would like to gain access to the burgeoning Chinese domestic market, you or your colleagues will need to make frequent business trips to this dynamic and exuberant city. Traveling to Shanghai from the US can be a complicated affair which often involves a long haul flight with connections and long term or short term business hotel stays and you might want to consider using the efficient, cost-effective services of the New York based travel management company, Fare Buzz

Fare Buzz has an exclusive relationship with over 60 domestic and international airlines and through this special relationship; it can procure much needed business class tickets which are an essential requirement for long haul business travel at substantial discounts. It is worth mentioning that these cheap business class airline tickets come with all the perks that are normally associated with regular business class tickets like mileage accrual and pre-assigned seats. Further the team at Fare Buzz is made up of experienced and knowledgeable travel consultants who are on hand seven days a week to help you find the best airline business class fares and hotel deals for your business travel to Shanghai. So if you are planning to align with the world’s fastest growing economy anytime soon do make it a point to call team at Fare Buzz at 1-888-808-4123 to chalk out your oriental odyssey.