Republic All -- Republic Business

Author: Shi Ying
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: Whether it's the aging old city or the mixed Chinese and foreign New Yichang, the dazzling array of trades paints a picture of Shanghai's prosperity. In the old city, although the thick walls hindered the entry of foreign "fancy tricks" and novelties brought into the concession, the century-old shops in Shiliupu, Ximen, and Old Beimen, tightly packed together, still upheld the former prosperity. However, across the vast expanse of Shanghai, countless new and exotic foreign goods—bicycles, cameras, microscopes, gramophones, clocks, eyeglasses, beer, soda, milk, bread—unknown and unseen by many Chinese, freely occupied the market. Due to their obvious superiority, these Western items and daily necessities were quickly adopted by the people of Shanghai and widely praised. During the Republican era, a large number of Chinese national capitalists emerged, with prominent figures in fields such as textiles, finance, and import/export trade. Notable events in the economic sphere and their historical evaluations are also discussed. Characters, shops, advertisements, posters, and product designs reflect the economic life of the Republican era.