For the ninth-straight season, Shanghai will host a men's FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH World Tour event as the Jinshan District plays host to the world's top beach volleyball players from May 1-6. Last year's event was an all-American affair, with Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser taking gold over Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal in the final. Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann were once again on the podium as they sealed bronze. Situated in the middle of China's east coastline, Shanghai has four distinct seasons and a population over 13 million.  Shanghai’s inhabitants are among the most hospitable and cheerful in the world and the city in which they live is both colorful and diverse.  In addition to hosting nine FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH World Tour events, Shanghai is noted for its many festivals, including the Shanghai Tourism Festival, the Longhua Temple Bell Striking on New Year’s Eve, the Longhua Temple Fair, the International Tea Culture Festival and the Orange Festival.  For shoppers, culinary connoisseurs and sight-seers, Shanghai is worth the visit, especially with China’s tallest building the Jim Mao Tower, which stands at 480 meters.  The Chinese city has often been referred to as a “shopping paradise” and all tastes are catered to in Shanghai.  Favorite foods from France, Russia, Italy, England, Japan and India will be found along with 16 styles of Chinese food that can be tasted in any of the 1,000-plus restaurants throughout the city.