上海 Shanghai Did you know Shanghai is the largest city by population of China and the largest city proper by population in the world? The two Chinese characters in the city’s name are 上 and 海, together meaning “Upon-the-Sea”. During the Tang Dynasty Shanghai was literally on the sea, hence the origin of the name. Today it shimmers and seduces at first sight, it’s blinding grandeur freezing the gaze and raising the pulse. Looking deeper still, the cracks of this city reveal a much darker side, and when all the neons shut off at a routine 10:30 close we are trained to find our way inside again and away from the cold.