Shanghai, China's biggest city, is preparing for the arrival of Typhoon Bebinca, which could be the strongest storm to hit the financial hub in many decades. As a precautionary measure, city authorities have grounded flights, recalled ships, and closed tourist sites.

According to officials, all flights at Shanghai's Hongqiao and Pudong airports will be canceled from 8 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) on Sunday. This decision comes as the Chinese megacity anticipates strong winds and heavy rainfall with Typhoon Bebinca closing in. Currently, the typhoon is several hundred kilometers off the coast but is expected to make landfall in eastern China after midnight on Monday.

In response to the approaching storm, the China Meteorological Administration issued a typhoon red alert on Sunday afternoon, warning of gales and heavy rains in the region. The administration predicts that the winds could reach speeds of 151 km (94 miles) per hour by Sunday night.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has also issued warnings about the potential impact of Typhoon Bebinca. It is anticipated to bring "heavy to torrential" downpours with the possibility of "local heavy or extremely heavy rainstorms" between Sunday and Tuesday.

This typhoon is expected to be the most powerful to hit Shanghai since 1949. Earlier this month, another typhoon named Yagi caused significant damage when it struck China's southern island of Hainan, resulting in four fatalities and injuring 95 people.

The implications of the approaching typhoon have compelled authorities to take further safety precautions. Along with the flight cancellations, Shanghai Railway Station has suspended some services, and the Shenzhen government has announced the halt of trains to and from Shanghai. Several resorts, including Shanghai Disney Resort, Jinjiang Amusement Park, and Shanghai Wild Animal Park, have temporarily closed their doors.

Considering the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls during the same period, China's railway operator is expecting 74 million passenger trips during the holiday, as reported by the state news agency Xinhua.

The impact of Typhoon Bebinca is not limited to Shanghai alone. The suspension of most ferries to and from Chongming Island, China's third-largest island and deemed "the gateway to the Yangtze River," has been put in place. In Zhejiang province, ships have been called back, and numerous parks in the provincial capital of Hangzhou have announced their closure.

Before reaching China, Typhoon Bebinca had already made its presence felt in Japan on its way. Packing gusts of up to nearly 200 kilometers per hour, it passed over Japan's Amami island overnight. The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned of an increased risk of landslides due to heavy rain. The storm also affected the central and southern Philippines, where falling trees caused six fatalities and brought about strong winds and flooding.

As Shanghai braces itself for the arrival of Typhoon Bebinca, authorities and residents are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of all individuals residing in and visiting the city.