The Supreme Court delivered its final verdict on Yoon, saying the lower court committed no error in its application of legal principles.
It marked the top court’s first ruling on Yoon since the ousted leader’s martial law declaration in December 2024.
On April 29 this year, the Seoul High Court overturned a lower court’s ruling over Yoon’s obstruction of arrest, lengthening his prison term from five to seven years.
The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon’s insurrection and other charges, had sought a 10-year prison sentence in the first and second instances.
Yoon was charged with abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was once thwarted in its attempt to arrest Yoon when the presidential security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.
Yoon was also accused of abusing his power to block nine cabinet members from exercising their rights to deliberate on the martial law declaration by calling a selective cabinet meeting before the declaration.
He faced charges of creating and later destroying a fabricated declaration document to make the declaration appear legal after the martial law was lifted, while ordering the dissemination of a press guidance containing a false claim that there was no intention to disrupt the constitutional order through the martial law.
The emergency martial law was declared by Yoon on the night of Dec. 3, 2024, but was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.
He was indicted under detention in January 2025 as a suspected ringleader of the insurrection, becoming the first sitting president to be arrested and indicted.
Yoon was charged with abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.
“These incidents that we have seen in the last 24 hours risk derailing the diplomatic progress achieved between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States,” said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, at a daily press briefing.
He said that “a return to full-scale hostilities would have catastrophic consequences — for the peoples of the region, for international peace and security, and for the global economy as a whole.”
The secretary-general called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid any further escalatory action, and take immediate steps to de-escalate. The UN chief further recalled the obligations of all parties to fully comply with international law.
Guterres urged Iran and the United States to promptly resume negotiations and to address outstanding issues through diplomacy.
The United Nations remains committed to supporting all efforts to prevent a return to conflict, restore stability, and advance a comprehensive and durable resolution to this conflict, said the spokesman.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press conference outlining his priorities for 2026 at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., January 29, 2026. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
The United States is “holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway,” the command said in a post on X.
More than 20 U.S. Navy warships were patrolling waters across the Middle East on Wednesday, the command said in an earlier post.
The move came after U.S. President Donald Trump warned at the NATO summit in Ankara earlier the same day that the U.S. military would probably hit Iran again.
“I’ll give a little warning: We’re going to hit them hard tonight,” Trump said, adding that he did not expect a full-fledged conflict with Iran.
Following Trump’s remarks at the summit, Iran’s Press TV, citing an informed source, reported that Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz and strike twice as many targets given any fresh U.S. attack.
The developments came as the United States and Iran traded fresh attacks from Tuesday night into Wednesday, marking a new round of escalation.
US forces conducted strikes against Iran for a second straight day to “degrade” Iran’s ability “to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” as announced by the United States Central Command.
A total of 750 patients are currently in isolation or hospitalization, with an overall bed occupancy rate of 94 percent, health authorities said in an update released late Wednesday.
Caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, the outbreak, declared on May 15, is the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak.
It has affected 37 health zones in three provinces, namely Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.
Response to the outbreak continues to face multiple constraints, including community resistance to post-mortem sampling, insufficient treatment capacity, gaps in contact tracing, limited supplies, insecurity and restricted access in areas affected by armed groups.
Medical workers put on protective suits at an Ebola treatment center in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, July 6, 2026. (Xinhua)
As of Monday, the DRC had reported 1,708 confirmed cases, including 580 deaths, said authorities late Tuesday.
According to a WHO Regional Office for Africa report released Tuesday, the outbreak in the DRC “continues to intensify,” driven by sustained transmission in hotspot health zones of Ituri and North Kivu provinces, growing numbers of community deaths and the spread of infection into previously unaffected health zones.
The public health risk in the DRC remains “very high,” the WHO said, warning that sustained and widespread transmission continued to outpace the current response capacity.
“The true scale has not yet been fully established,” Anne Ancia, WHO’s representative to the DRC, told reporters in Bunia, capital of Ituri province, epicenter of the outbreak.
“We would like to say it is stabilizing, but frankly, we cannot say it yet,” she said.
Hidden chains of transmission
The WHO report said deaths before admission to treatment facilities remain a major concern in the country, suggesting delays in case detection, referral and isolation.
Among 430 confirmed deaths investigated as of Sunday, 397, or 92.3 percent, occurred in the community or before admission to a treatment facility, according to the report.
For health workers, community deaths are a critical warning sign, which suggests that surveillance, referral and isolation systems are still lagging behind the virus, allowing transmission to continue before patients reach care, it said.
Contact tracing has improved but remains insufficient to quickly interrupt transmission. As of Monday, 12,412 contacts were under follow-up in the DRC.
However, only 32.4 percent of confirmed cases had been detected through contact follow-up, indicating many infections outside known contact lists and “ongoing gaps in surveillance.”
In support of the government-led response, WHO teams are working to reconstruct the history of each infection “so that we can really understand the chain of transmission” and isolate every contact case, Ancia said.
The outbreak, declared on May 15, is unfolding in areas already marked by armed conflicts, mass displacement and overstretched health services. It has mainly affected Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces in eastern DRC.
Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said compared with previous Ebola outbreaks in Africa at the same stage, the current outbreak ranked first in terms of the number of cases and deaths.
Healthcare nearing saturation
The surge in cases is placing growing pressure on Ebola treatment and isolation facilities.
The DRC has about 700 treatment and isolation beds across more than 22 Ebola treatment centers and care facilities. As of Sunday, 646 patients were in isolation nationwide, with official isolation occupancy standing at about 94.2 percent, according to the WHO report.
Ancia said that treatment centers were “at saturation point” and that not all needs in Ituri province could currently be met.
Still, WHO officials pointed to some gains in the response. Testing capacity has risen sharply from about 30 tests per day in Kinshasa to more than 2,000 per day, thanks to 10 decentralized laboratories established in affected provinces, including the latest one opened in Bunia, Ancia said.
The response is also complicated by the wider humanitarian emergency in eastern DRC, where insecurity, displacement, poor water access and weak health infrastructure have increased vulnerability to diseases.
Kaseya said the Ebola response could not be separated from the broader humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC.
He said that Africa CDC and partners had expanded their funding appeal from an initial request focused on Ebola response to a wider package covering health and humanitarian needs, and that addressing displacement, sanitation and insecurity would help contain multiple crises at once.
“If we resolve these humanitarian aspects, we will defeat not only Ebola, but also measles and cholera, and also fight insecurity and give opportunities to young people,” Kaseya said.
Search for treatment
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment, unlike the better-known Zaire species.
The WHO-sponsored PARTNERS clinical trial was officially launched in the DRC on Thursday, becoming the first clinical trial specifically evaluating therapeutics for the disease caused by the Bundibugyo species.
The trial is assessing the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral remdesivir, individually and in combination.
“These drugs will be administered alone or in combination to assess their potential to improve survival among people with the Bundibugyo virus disease,” Ancia said, adding that more than 1,200 treatment doses were available, and that additional therapies could be incorporated as new evidence emerges.
Kaseya said clinical trials had come “very late,” nearly two decades after the Bundibugyo species was first identified.
He said Africa CDC was pushing to ensure that vaccines and treatment options could be available “before the end of the year.”
A mixed regional picture
Uganda has reported no new Ebola cases during the past two weeks. As of Sunday, the country had recorded 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths. Sixteen patients had recovered and two remained hospitalized. All contacts under follow-up in Uganda had completed the required 21-day monitoring period without new linked cases being detected, the WHO reported.
In France, the imported laboratory-confirmed case reported to WHO on June 24 had recovered and was discharged from hospital on Saturday after two consecutive negative laboratory tests. Five passengers who had traveled on the same flight as the patient were quarantined and remained asymptomatic.
The WHO said Uganda still faced a high risk of importation due to population movement from eastern DRC, while the imported case in France underscored the need for sustained surveillance, traveler awareness and cross-border preparedness.
Medical workers put on protective suits at an Ebola treatment center in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, July 6, 2026. (Xinhua)Medical workers carry out disinfection work at an Ebola treatment center in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, July 6, 2026. (Xinhua)
Instead, the first military operation led by President Paul Kagame after his return from the United States became the turning point that ultimately secured victory.
Speaking in IGIHE’s Ingingo Nkuru programme as Rwanda commemorates the 32nd anniversary of the country’s liberation and the end of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Col (Rtd) Mugisha reflected on some of the defining moments of the liberation war.
Capturing Gatuna
Col (Rtd) Mugisha served in the battalion commanded by Col (Rtd) Dodo Twahirwa, the unit that captured Gatuna.
After securing Gatuna, the battalion remained in the hills of Byumba, where it was reinforced by two additional battalions.
“We stayed in the Byumba hills until two other battalions joined us, making three battalions in total. From there we continued fighting in Byumba, Kivuye, Bungwe and all the way to Butaro,” he recalled.
He described the battles at Kaniga and Kivuye as some of the most difficult during the early stages of the war.
“We fought at Kivuye and Kaniga II, particularly in Kivuye Commune. On the first day, we defeated the enemy and captured their positions. But on the second day, they received reinforcements from Byumba, Butaro and Ruhengeri. They launched a strong counterattack, forcing us to retreat.”
The fighting continued at Gatuna.
He said, “From there we moved to Gatuna II. We fought there as well, but the enemy had superior strength. We would capture part of the area, only for them to drive us out again. We adopted guerrilla tactics because if we stayed in one position for too long, we suffered heavy casualties. We would attack, hold the area for a day, then move on the next day.”
Col (Rtd) Vincent Mugisha shares memories of his years as an RPA soldier, highlighting the challenges, sacrifices and determination that shaped the liberation campaign.
One of the things he admires most, he said, is President Kagame’s leadership during the liberation struggle and his ability to plan military operations that defeated the enemy in ways many people still find remarkable today.
“The Commander-in-Chief planned our operations exceptionally well. After the battles at Kivuye and Kaniga II, he devised another strategy. I wasn’t involved in the planning because I was still a junior soldier, but he organized an operation to attack Ruhengeri again. We marched on foot through the Virunga Mountains, attacked Ruhengeri and freed prisoners. That operation shocked the enemy and convinced them that we had far greater strength than they had imagined.”
He continued: “After we left the Virunga Mountains, he quickly organized two battalions and ordered them to return to the park. Since almost all the enemy’s forces had been deployed in Ruhengeri, he knew only a small number of troops remained elsewhere. He instructed them to move through the park and advance as far as Rusumo.”
“As we moved, the enemy detected us when we reached the Kayange area, just beyond Namuhemura. They pursued us through Nyarupfubire toward Rwimiyaga. We engaged them effectively. They had underestimated us, thinking we were only a small force, but after the battle, their morale was badly shaken.”
Another decisive battle took place at Gikoba, where RPA troops refused to surrender ground.
“Our soldiers stayed in trenches. Whenever they attacked, we’d repel them. They would return a week later, and we would push them back again.”
Trenches dramatically reduced casualties
According to Col (Rtd) Mugisha, one of President Kagame’s most important military directives required every soldier to dig a trench for protection.
“He taught us that every soldier had to fight from a trench. Inspection teams were even established to verify that every battalion had properly dug them. I clearly remember senior officers coming to inspect.”
The trenches significantly reduced casualties.
“The enemy would bombard our positions thinking they had killed us all. When they advanced to finish us off, they found us alive and ready to fight back. That completely changed the nature of the war. Eventually they became afraid of attacking us, and it greatly boosted our soldiers’ morale.”
Arriving in Kigali after the Genocide began
Col (Rtd) Mugisha arrived in Kigali on April 10, 1994, after his battalion was ordered south from the Mulindi area to rescue civilians as the Genocide against the Tutsi unfolded.
“We left on April 8 and reached Kigali on April 10, entering through Kagugu.”
The journey exposed them to scenes that remain unforgettable.
“From Mugambazi through Rutongo, there were bodies everywhere.”
He explained that displaced people from Byumba who had settled around Nyacyonga had already begun killing Tutsi civilians, leaving bodies scattered along the roads.
“It was heartbreaking. Those who did not witness the Genocide cannot fully understand its cruelty. Even soldiers were deeply affected by what we saw. When I think about what happened to the Tutsi, it still pains me.”
The horrifying discovery at Musha Parish
After several days fighting in Kigali, Mugisha’s battalion received new orders under the command of Maj Gen Caesar Kayizari to rescue Tutsi civilians in eastern Rwanda.
At Musha in present-day Rwamagana District, he encountered the largest number of victims he had ever seen.
“At Musha Parish, around the priest’s residence near the cathedral, there were more than 5,000 bodies. There were many more inside the parish. They had been killed in horrific ways.”
He recalled seeing victims who had been beaten to death and stripped naked. One memory has never left him.
“A fellow soldier came from Musha. When we arrived, he said, ‘This is my home.’ We told him to check whether any of his relatives had survived. As soon as he entered the compound, he collapsed over the bodies of his family members. He cried uncontrollably until we had to carry him away.”
As they advanced further, they discovered that the killings were still ongoing. “We even found a truck transporting bodies from the church to dumping sites. The entire church was covered in blood.”
The liberation of Kigali brought mixed emotions
By July 4, 1994, Col (Rtd) Mugisha was stationed in Kimihurura when Kigali was finally liberated.
Despite the military victory, he says there was little celebration among the soldiers.
“The capture of Kigali did not bring us the joy many people imagine. You celebrate when the people you came to save are alive. Instead, we found bodies everywhere.”
Months of continuous fighting had also taken a heavy physical toll.
“We had been fighting nonstop from April to July. The troops were exhausted.” He added that civilians, who would normally celebrate alongside liberating forces, were either dead or had fled.
“It was a mixture of emotions that is difficult to explain. We were happy to have achieved victory, but overwhelmed by the tragedy we witnessed.”
Col (Rtd) Vincent Mugisha recounts key moments from his time in the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), including the capture of Gatuna and other decisive battles.
Confident in Rwanda’s youth
Col (Rtd) Mugisha expressed strong confidence in today’s young generation, saying they are fully capable of serving Rwanda in different fields.
“People often criticise today’s youth, but every generation has heard older people say, ‘Children these days.’”
He said it is unfair to judge an entire generation because of the mistakes of a few individuals.
“If one young person uses drugs or another gets drunk, people assume they are all the same. I don’t believe that. Our children will achieve even more than we did because they have opportunities we never had. They are educated, they understand technology, and today’s battles are battles of development.”
He added that Rwanda’s young people have already demonstrated responsibility.
“I’ve been away from home for three years and nothing has happened. Our young people are capable. Heroes produce heroes. A lion gives birth to another lion, not a dog.”
A message to detractors
Reflecting on his years in the Rwanda Defence Force, Col (Rtd) Mugisha described it as a family built on solidarity, mutual respect and shared values.
“I’ve lived well because you never go hungry in the army, and you’re never abandoned when you’re sick. The RDF is a family that supports its members, and I love it.”
He also had a message for those who continue to seek to destabilise Rwanda.
“Those who failed in 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000 and all the years since should give up. They should return home and help build the country because they will never achieve their objective.”
He said Rwanda’s unity makes attempts to destabilise the country futile.
“Rwanda is stable because its people are united. Where would anyone even find a way to divide it? They should abandon the idea of capturing Rwanda. The country has moved far beyond that.”
Col (Rtd) Vincent Mugisha, is one of the soldiers who took part in the liberation struggle.
Since the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted in 2015, sustained investment, sound policies and international cooperation have improved the lives of billions of people worldwide with measurable gains across the SDGs, says The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026.
Nearly 1 billion people gained access to safely managed drinking water and 1.2 billion people to safely managed sanitation. New HIV infections fell by 30 percent between 2015 and 2024, and AIDS-related deaths by 35 percent. Electricity now reaches 92 percent of the world’s population. Internet access has surged from 40 percent to 74 percent. Social protection covers more than half the global population for the first time in history, according to the report.
“Guided by the data in this report, our vision of the 2030 Agenda remains within reach,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the report. “Together, let us make a decisive final push to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a healthy, prosperous future for all.”
Despite the progress, major challenges persist, the report shows.
One in 10 people still lives in extreme poverty. Around 2.3 billion people face moderate or severe food insecurity. More than 150 million children remain stunted. Maternal mortality stands at nearly three times the global target. The number of people affected by climate-related disasters has more than doubled since 2015, according to the report.
Escalating conflicts, climate change, slowing economic growth, rising debt, and a record decline in official development assistance are compounding the shortfall and disproportionately affecting the world’s most vulnerable people, it added.
At the press conference during which the report was released, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said that the SDGs are sound. “Where they have been backed by political will and resources, they do deliver,” she said, warning of the existence of a deepening crisis in the means of implementation.
She called for three commitments: advancing gender equality as an enabler of every goal, accelerating the transition to renewable energy, and putting peace first by investing in the instruments of development rather than ever-rising military spending.
“None of today’s defining challenges can be solved by countries acting alone. The evidence presented in this report makes one thing unmistakably clear: the Sustainable Development Goals remain achievable if we choose to act together with greater urgency, scale, solidarity and resolve,” said Mohammed. “But that choice must be made now. It must be made with four years to go for a decisive final push to change the trajectory that we are currently on.”
UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua said the 2030 Agenda recognizes that sustainable development is a shared endeavor, not a zero-sum game.
Recent milestones, such as legally protecting the high seas, or the surge in renewable electricity-generating capacity in developing countries, prove that ambitious, coordinated action delivers, Li said in the report.
“The next four years will test our momentum. The choices we make now regarding financing, global cooperation and collective crisis management will echo for generations,” he said. “The evidence in this report proves the goals we set in 2015 were never beyond us. We must now summon the resolve to finish what we began.”
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed speaks at the press briefing to launch The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026 at the UN headquarters in New York, July 7, 2026. With four years to go, only 36 percent of the assessable targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track, with nearly half stalling, and 15 percent have regressed, according to a UN report released Tuesday. (Xinhua/Xie E)
Answering journalists’ questions before a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Complex, Trump sharply criticized European allies.
Stating that Italy, France, and Germany “let us down,” Trump asked, “So why are we spending hundreds of thousands of dollars, and they didn’t come to our aid?”
Erdogan said during the meeting that Türkiye was making every effort to stabilize Iran-U.S. relations.
The reluctance of European countries to send warships to support U.S. efforts to “reopen” the Strait of Hormuz had prompted criticism from Trump, who harshly accused European allies of benefiting from U.S. security guarantees while refusing to offer help in the Iran war.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) meets with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Türkiye, July 7, 2026. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)
His address highlighted Rwanda’s profound transformation from a nation devastated by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi into a country committed to peace, development, and hope.
For the Rwandan diplomat, July 4 is not merely a military victory or a historical milestone. Above all, it symbolizes the rebirth of a nation. It marks the moment when Rwanda regained its dignity, sovereignty, and ability to build a future founded on unity and inclusion.
The Ambassador emphasized that rebuilding Rwanda after the genocide was far from an easy task. Faced with immense human, social, and institutional destruction, the country could easily have descended into instability. Instead, Rwandans chose a different path, one of reconciliation, collective responsibility, and confidence in the future.
According to Amb. Dushimimana, the progress achieved over the past three decades is the result of clear vision and sustained commitment.
Rwanda’s development has not been driven by an abundance of natural resources, but by strategic investments in human capital, strong institutions, women’s and youth empowerment, innovation, and environmental protection.
“Rwanda’s development story is not the result of abundant natural resources; it is the product of purposeful leadership, national unity, and the unwavering determination of its citizens,” he stated.
The Ambassador also stressed that liberation should not be viewed as an event confined to the past. Rather, it is an ongoing responsibility that falls upon every generation.
Safeguarding peace, strengthening national cohesion, and creating greater opportunities for future generations remain essential priorities for Rwanda.
In his speech, he also paid tribute to Rwanda’s international partners, particularly the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which has supported the country’s reconstruction and development efforts for decades. Today, Rwanda and the Netherlands enjoy a dynamic partnership spanning trade and investment, agriculture, innovation, and education.
According to the Ambassador, this relationship, built on mutual respect and shared ambitions, demonstrates the importance of international partnerships in promoting prosperity and stability. He expressed Rwanda’s commitment to further strengthening ties with the Netherlands and with the broader African continent as new economic opportunities continue to emerge.
Amb. Dushimimana also praised the Rwandan diaspora in the Netherlands, describing it as a vital bridge between the two nations.
Through their professionalism, achievements, and enduring connection to their homeland, members of the diaspora contribute significantly to Rwanda’s international profile and to the strengthening of bilateral relations.
The diplomat also underscored that the true essence of Liberation lies in hope, where he highlighted that a nation’s greatest achievement is not simply overcoming adversity, but transforming painful experiences into a source of confidence, opportunity, and hope for future generations.
Thirty-two years after its Liberation, Rwanda continues to present itself to the world as a nation that has chosen unity, resilience, and ambition as the foundations of its development, demonstrating that a brighter future can be built even after the darkest chapters of history.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Lambert Dushimimana, addresses guests during the 32nd Liberation anniversary celebration, reflecting on the country’s journey since 1994.Participants attend Rwanda’s 32nd Liberation anniversary event in the Netherlands, which highlighted messages of unity, resilience, and hope.Rwanda’s Liberation anniversary event in the Netherlands highlighted the importance of unity, reconciliation, and continued efforts toward national development.The celebration brought together members of the Rwandan diaspora and friends of Rwanda in the Netherlands to mark 32 years since Liberation.
Today, this evolution is most vividly reflected in its cities, and few capture that story better than Shanghai.
Set along China’s eastern coastline, Shanghai rises as a symbol of the nation’s modern ambition and global connectivity. It is a city where history is not left behind, but rather built into the foundations of progress, where ancient waterways, colonial-era streets, and futuristic skylines converge into one living landscape of change.
Shanghai stands today as one of China’s most influential and dynamic cities, defined by transformation, ambition, and international reach. Located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, it spans 6,340.5 square kilometres and is home to nearly 25 million people. Positioned at the heart of the Yangtze River Delta and facing the Pacific Ocean, the city serves as a vital gateway linking China’s vast interior with global markets.
Often referred to as the “Dragon Head” of the Yangtze River, Shanghai plays a leading role in the development of the Yangtze Economic Belt. Its strategic position and economic weight have earned it designation as an international centre for economy, finance, trade, shipping, and technological innovation, collectively known as the “Five Centers.”
By 2019, Shanghai’s GDP had reached approximately 524.02 billion US dollars, with a per capita income of about 20,398 US dollars.
During the same period, more than 720 multinational companies had established headquarters in the city, alongside over 460 research and development institutions, reinforcing its position as a global hub for business and innovation.
The historic buildings along the Bund showcase Shanghai’s architectural heritage and the city’s evolution as a global port.
A defining chapter in Shanghai’s modern story is the Pudong New Area. In 1990, when China launched its development and opening-up policies there, Pudong was largely composed of farmland and low-rise industrial buildings.
In just over three decades, it has been transformed into one of the world’s most recognizable urban skylines.
By 2025, Pudong’s GDP had reached 1.88 trillion yuan (approximately 276.9 billion US dollars), accounting for about one-third of Shanghai’s total economy.
It now hosts around 60 percent of the city’s licensed financial institutions and nearly half of the regional headquarters of multinational corporations.
Its foreign trade volume reached 2.76 trillion yuan (approximately $406.5 billion USD) , while key industries such as integrated circuits, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence expanded to a combined scale of about 970 billion yuan (about $142.87 billion USD).
At the heart of this transformation lies the Lujiazui Financial District, home to Shanghai’s iconic skyline and its famous trio of skyscrapers known as the “Three-Piece Set.” These buildings represent not just architectural achievement, but the story of a city evolving across decades.
The Jin Mao Tower, completed in 1999 and rising 420.5 metres, reflects the early phase of modern development in Pudong. Inspired by traditional Chinese pagoda design, it blends cultural heritage with modern engineering.
Nearby stands the Shanghai World Financial Centre, completed in 2008 and reaching 492 metres. Its distinctive trapezoidal opening near the top, resembling a bottle opener, symbolizes openness and Shanghai’s growing role in global finance.
Towering above them is the Shanghai Tower, completed in 2016. At 632 metres, it is the tallest building in China and the third tallest in the world. Its spiralling glass façade reduces wind pressure while symbolizing innovation and sustainability.
Inside, it functions as a vertical city, combining offices, hotels, retail spaces, and observation decks. High-speed elevators carry visitors to the “Top of Shanghai” observatory on the 118th floor in just 55 seconds.
Yet Shanghai’s identity is not defined by skyscrapers alone. The city is shaped by its waterways, including the Yangtze River, Huangpu River, and Suzhou Creek. The Huangpu River divides Shanghai into two contrasting yet connected worlds: Puxi in the west and Pudong in the east.
On the Puxi side, the historic Bund preserves a skyline of colonial-era buildings that reflect Shanghai’s trading past and early international influence. Across the river, Pudong rises as a symbol of modern China; bold, futuristic, and ever-evolving.
Historical influences from the 19th-century Opium War era, including British and French concessions, left a lasting architectural imprint on the city.
European-style buildings still stand in parts of Shanghai today, blending into its wider urban identity and offering a reminder of its complex historical journey.
One of the most powerful ways to experience Shanghai is along the Huangpu waterfront, where sweeping views capture both the Bund’s historic architecture and the towering skyline of Lujiazui in a single frame. It is a rare visual dialogue between centuries, where heritage and innovation exist side by side.
Beyond the modern metropolis lies Zhujiajiao, a beautifully preserved water town that offers a quieter reflection of Shanghai’s past. Known for its ancient stone bridges, narrow canals, traditional houses, and artisan shops, it preserves the atmosphere of Jiangnan culture. At night, lantern-lit reflections shimmer across the water, while visitors explore tea culture, handmade crafts, and local traditions passed down through generations.
Today, Shanghai stands as a global metropolis defined by openness, resilience, and continuous reinvention. From its ancient river towns and historic waterfronts to its soaring modern skyline, the city tells a powerful story of transformation—one where tradition is not replaced by progress, but carried forward as part of it.
Traditional buildings in Shanghai preserve the city’s rich architectural heritage, offering a glimpse into its historical journey and cultural identity.Historic structures across Shanghai showcase the city’s traditional architecture, where past generations’ craftsmanship continues to stand alongside modern developments.The Huangpu River divides Shanghai into two connected worlds: historic Puxi and futuristic Pudong. Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers define the city’s modern identity while reflecting decades of economic growth and urban development.Tourists enjoy a Huangpu River cruise, one of the most popular ways to experience Shanghai’s blend of history, culture, and modern development.The Huangpu River provides a unique viewpoint where Shanghai’s historic Bund and modern Pudong skyline meet in a single landscape. Visitors gather along the Huangpu waterfront to admire views of Shanghai’s famous skyline and historic riverfront buildings.Shanghai’s iconic skyline rises along the Huangpu River, showcasing the city’s transformation into one of the world’s leading financial and economic centres.A nighttime view from the Huangpu River captures the contrast between Shanghai’s historic buildings and its futuristic skyscrapers.A cruise along the Huangpu River offers visitors a panoramic view of Shanghai’s futuristic skyline and the architectural landmarks of Pudong.The three landmark skyscrapers of Lujiazui Financial District — Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai World Financial Centre, and Shanghai Tower — stand as symbols of Shanghai’s rapid modernization. Shanghai continues to present a powerful story of reinvention, where ancient heritage and modern ambition exist side by side. A cruise along the Huangpu River offers a panoramic view of Shanghai’s futuristic skyline and the architectural landmarks of Pudong.The historic buildings along the Bund showcase Shanghai’s architectural heritage and the city’s evolution as a global port.The Bund’s historic architecture stands across from Pudong’s towering skyline, illustrating Shanghai’s connection between heritage and progress.Visitors often gather along the Huangpu waterfront to admire views of Shanghai’s famous skyline and historic riverfront buildings.The Shanghai Tower, China’s tallest building, dominates the city skyline with its spiralling design that represents innovation and sustainable architecture.Pudong’s modern skyline rises across the Huangpu River, representing Shanghai’s ambition, openness, and economic transformation.
