Because of the way China has often been presented in the western media - as a semi-primitive, medieval, mystical place - first time visitors are often taken aback by just how 'western' a place it can be. It's true that there can be massive disparities between the lives of country and city dwellers, the former sometimes still living in conditions we would consider very old fashioned. But the large cities are much like other large cities worldwide - only generally they're larger and they all have a unique Chinese twist.
The largest of the lot is Shanghai, and it's also probably the most commercial and westernized. While Beijing is, of course, China's political capital, Shanghai is the country's centre for business and industry - and for shopping, socializing and having fun. The difference is a little like that between Washington DC and New York City, with the exception that Beijing has rather more to offer the tourist than DC.
One of the main reasons to visit Shanghai is if you have dollars burning a hole in your pocket. Although prices have risen with the increased growth of capitalism in China, it's still quite possible to pick up a bargain, especially if you're looking for designer clotes (though watch out for fakes!) and electronic goods. Nanjing Road is the area of the city to head for if you're interested in spending some cash - it's also a great area to visit if you just want to soak up the vibrant Shanghai street scene. Of all China's cities - discounting, maybe, Hong Kong, which is a special case - Shanghai arguably has the most vibrant youth culture. If you're young, you like a good time and you want to visit China, Shanghai should be your first port of call.
A good place to get a handle on the immense scale of the city is the Bund, a large, open, urban area on the the banks of the Huangpu River. The Bund is popular with joggers and groups practising Chinese martial arts, and is a great place to admire some of the city's architecture. There are a lot of seriously big skyscrapers in Shanghai as well as some beautiful buildings built by western corporations in the days before the Chinese Revolution. Probably the most distinctive of these is the HSBC (Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) Building - it's a distinctive highlight of the way Shanghai blends the old with the ultra-modern.
Beijing and Shanghai (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Life and Death in Shanghai
The Painter from Shanghai: A Novel
Shanghai (City Guide)
The Song of Everlasting Sorrow, Translated by Michael Berry and Susan Chan Egan: A Novel of Shanghai (Weatherhead Books on Asia)