Shanghai Waigaoqiao FTZ is the counry's biggest and oldest free trade zone approved by the State Council in June 1990. It incorporates various functions including free trade, export processing, logistic warehousing and bonded commodities'displaying. The FTZ has 10 square km projection area, among which 7.52 square km is now under operation and development. After 11 years'development and construction, the FTZ has got 5022 projects approved by the end of 2001, with the total investment of 6.561 billion USD and investors from 66 countries and regions in the world. Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone has established relationship with 127 countries and regions around the world.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone (the zone) lies in the northeast of Shanghai and at the intercourse of Yangtze River and the eastern coast of China. It is 40 minutes'drive from the zone to Hongqiao International Airport, 20 minutes to Pudong International Airport, 35 minutes to Shanghai Railway Station, 20 minutes to No. 2 Subway line and 30 minutes to People's Square in the center of the City. The elevated south-north inner ring in downtown area, Yan'an Dong Channel tunnel and Yan'an elevated inner ring enable the traffic from the city center to the FTZ to be more convenient. The Outer Ring goes through the east side of FTZ and runs across Huangpu River at Zhang Huabang area, and reaches Wu Song Harbor area. It joins up with the country's traffic network, especially the highways.