Children play in the Bund in Shanghai. Officials have said the city appears to be experiencing a "mini peak" in its birth rate, compared with the low rates of recent years.
Amid low birth rates and an aging population, the country's largest metropolis looks set to receive a shot of much-needed growth.
Its population is expected to hit 19 million by 2010, up from 18.58 million last year, the Shanghai municipal population and family planning commission said recently.
Shanghai saw a slight population increase last year when about 160,000 babies were born in the city, up 20 percent from the previous year. Officials have said it appears Shanghai is experiencing a "mini peak" in its birth rate compared to the low rates of recent years.
The director of the Shanghai family planning commission, Xie Lingli, said the year 2007, observed in the Chinese lunar calendar as the Year of The Golden Pig, might have led to a spike in the number of births as many couples believed it was good luck to have a child last year.
Similarly, the upcoming
Beijing Olympics this year is seen as fueling another baby boom across the country since many couples want their children born during this auspicious time.
The Shanghai commission alone expects 175,000 babies to be born in the city this year.
At the same time, experts say the 6.6 million migrant workers, who work in Shanghai as construction workers, maids, shop and restaurant attendants and vegetable sellers, have partly contributed to these rising numbers.