Shanghai assumes the central location along China's coastal line. Due to its advantageous geographic location, Shanghai is an excellent sea and river port, boasting easy accesses to a vast hinterland. With a pleasant northern subtropical maritime monsoon climate, Shanghai enjoys four distinct seasons, generous sunshine and abundant rainfall every year. Its spring and autumn are relatively short comparing with the summer and winter. Shanghai plays an important role in the nation's social and economic development. In early 1990s, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council made the decision to turn Shanghai into a world economic, financial and trade center as soon as possible and to bring a new round of economic development of the whole Yangtze River area. Shanghai bears the heavy responsibilities to open further to the world and serve the whole nation. With a population of only 1% and a land area of 0.06% of the nation's total, Shanghai contributes one twelfth of the nation's total industrial output value, one sixth of the country's port cargo handling volume, one fourth of the country's total exports and one eighth of national financial revenue. The city has also played a leading role in reform and opening programs, industrial upgrading and science and technology renovation. Shanghai has made great contribution to the nation's modernization drive. Pudong New Area is part of the city of Shanghai. It is located on the eastern side of Huangpu River, which cuts through the city. On April 18, 1990, Chinese central government made the announcement to open up and develop Shanghai Pudong. This was seen as an opportunity to build Shanghai into one of the international economic, finance and trade centers and to regenerate the economy of the Yangtze River Delta and the whole Yangtze River Valley. The opening-up and development of Pudong New Area is also part of the national strategy for economic development. The past ten years witnessed explosive economic growth in Pudong as well as an enormous change in the appearance of the city. Pudong New Area has become the landmark of Shanghai as one of the international economic centers in the 21st century. As one of the largest centers of economy in China, Shanghai has witnessed the development of the modern history of China. It is now on its way to become an international metropolis. "Main Sights of Shanghai : The new Bund, Huangpu River Cruise, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jin Mao Building"