The word "Shang Hai" is literally translated to "above the sea" as the city of Shanghai was built 500 years ago on the bank of the Yangtze River Delta, with East Sea in the east and Hangzhou delta in the south. Shanghai summers are hot and humid with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius. The rainy season begins in June. Fall is mostly mild. In winter (January to February) temperatures can reach below freezing. Spring begins again in March.