Pathways to a world city: Shanghai rising in an era of globalisation

In a globalising world, cities at or near the apex of the international urban hierarchy are among the favoured few-New York, London and Tokyo-that have acquired large economic, cultural and symbolic roles. Among a handful of regional aspirants, such as Hong Kong, Miami and Sao Paulo, Shanghai has reasonable long-term prospects. If the Chinese economy can sustain its growth rate, it will rival the US in a few decades. And if Shanghai is able to retain its pre-eminence in the Chinese context, then it is likely to be the East Asian city with the best prospect of becoming a global centre. This paper briefly explores the makings of a world city, identifies certain necessary ingredients, examines Shanghai's recent development, indicates national and municipal policies that may determine Shanghai's pathway to a global city and shows how such policies are being implemented.