Shanghai one of 5 best places to live overseas for 2008

This is what Wilson has to say about Shanghai:

Where to experience the next great expat city? Those with an eye to the future might consider Shanghai. With the inexorable rise of the Chinese economy, Shanghai is a good bet to become the financial capital of the 21st century.

Shanghai’s dynamism can be seen in the layering of the futuristic skyline, colonial facades, and the teeming, gritty street life. This energy is percolating down to Moganshan Road’s gallery and warehouse studio scene, regarded as the epicenter of contemporary Chinese art.

The only mainland Chinese city to crack the top 100 of the Mercer livable cities index, Shanghai already provides a good mixture of affordability, opportunity, nightlife, and culture.
Unlike Buenos Aires, work is not difficult to come by in Shanghai. ESL teachers are in demand, and entrepreneurial spirits can take advantage of Shanghai’s [Economist] ranking as the best place to do business in China.

Perhaps in time, Shanghai’s tapestry of contrast will inspire the next great expat novel.

Hmmm, well, we do love Shanghai's "tapestry of contrast" AND it's worth emphasizing that Shanghai squeaked in at the very, very, very bottom of the Mercer top 100 list for 2007. But considering the rest of China never made it to the list, coming 100th is a significant enough achievement to mention and even brag about. Plus, two Swiss cities topped the list, so it certainly wasn't about exciting places to live anyway.

And while still on the topic of expat fiction, if you want to read a fabulous Shanghai-themed travel piece, you won't want to miss Condé Nast Traveler’s recent Secret Shanghai. Oooh, now that is classic expat jewelery. We laughed, we cried, we puked.

Photo from madaboutshanghai.com.