Shanghai is an increasingly popular choice for businesses looking to outsource software development. It's also the Asian-Pacific headquarters for more than 150 foreign companies, including General Electric and General Motors.
How to get around: Only five subway lines operate, but they're clean and efficient, and all stations have English-language signs.
Where to find free Wi-Fi: The U.S.-based Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf chain hits the spot. The one in the Azia Center (Shop 101, 133 N. Yin Cheng Road, Pudong; 86-21-6387-4248) is close to the offices of many multinationals.
Where to get a trim: The stylists at Benson Salon (778 Jiangning Road; 86-21-6276-2635; www.bensonsalon.com/en) are Vidal Sassoon-trained. Basic cuts cost around $20.
Best place to get down to business: M on the Bund (Seventh Floor, 20 Guangdong Lu; 86-21-6350-9988; www.m-restaurantgroup.com) is across the river from the financial district and serves an eclectic mix of international fare.
Best place to celebrate closing the deal: The chic Glamour Bar (Sixth Floor, 20 Guangdong Lu; 86-21-6350-9988; www.m-restaurantgroup.com), one floor down from sister restaurant M on the Bund, has killer views of Pudong's skyscrapers.
What you might not know: People stand quite close and bump into each other with little remorse. Public hugging, however, is not acceptable.
It's another banner year for the businesses leading the tech revival. Here's who is out in front and how they got there. (more) 
It's getting crowded on the Web 2.0 frontier, but we highlight the newcomers most likely to strike gold in 2007. (more) 
