It is located in the northeastern part of downtown Shanghai, bordering the Huangpu River on the east and south, Hongkou on the west, and Baoshan on the north.

[7] As with most of modern Shanghai, the territory of Yangpu has been formed by sediments deposited by the Yangtze River over many centuries.

[citation needed] Toward the end of the Ming dynasty, villages along the river flourished, engaging in agriculture, banking, textiles and water-borne trade.

[8] In 1899, 10.89 km2 (4.20 sq mi) of what is now the south of modern Yangpu District was partitioned to become part of the International Settlement.

[citation needed] Textile, paper-making, and shipbuilding industries were established by the early 20th century in what was then organized as part of Hongkew (now Hongkou).

[citation needed] By the early 1920s, journalist turned revolutionary Chen Duxiu remarked in the New Youth magazine that the area of Yangshupu had become industrialized.

[citation needed] In 1992, Yangpu's territories south of the Huangpu River were designated part of the Pudong New District.

[11][12][13] Since the beginning of the 21st century, Yangpu District has increasingly developed away from labor-intensive industry towards commerce and high technology:[citation needed] the area around Wujiaochang now boast ten large commercial centers and the research and development zone on Dalian Road hosts the regional headquarters of Siemens and Continental AG.

[5] Yangpu District is connected to the neighbouring Pudong New Area across the Huangpu River by one bridge, three tunnels, and six ferry lines.