Shanghai and Beyond: The Rise of the Greater Metropolitan Region

Part 1: The Expanding Footprint1. Geographic Scope:- Core: Shanghai municipality (6,340 km²)- First Ring: Suzhou, Wuxi, Nantong (1-hour commute zone)- Extended Region: Nanjing, Hangzhou, Ningbo (2-hour high-speed rail)2. Population Dynamics:- 36 m