Shanghai charm

Author: Wang Hanliang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: In Shanghai, known as the "International Metropolis," what kind of charm would remain if the neon lights flickered and the jazz music roared? With the unique perspective of a television journalist, the author meticulously portrays the present and past of Shanghai, as well as the collective and individual lives of its people. This book is a vivid depiction of Shanghai's atmosphere, blending the romantic tales of the "Ten-Mile Brocade District" from the past with stories set on Xifeng Road, Nanjing Road, and the Daxiang World. It also explores the origins of Shanghai's time-honored enterprises, with a particular focus on the urban life of Shanghai people in the 1960s and 1970s. The author, having lived through those decades, writes with vivid detail and depth, earning praise from contemporaries and broadening the horizons of later generations. Many chapters in the book fill gaps in the history of Shanghai's culture, marking it as a pioneering work.
How did this international metropolis transform from a small fishing village into what it is today? Its shadows, its glories, its struggles, and its rise—these are all topics of global attention as the World Expo approaches in Shanghai. To truly understand a city, one must develop a comparative emotional connection with its inhabitants. What are the shared traits, customs, inherent weaknesses, and evolving modernities of the Shanghai people? With the unique perspective of a television journalist, the author offers an innovative and meticulous portrayal of the present and past of Shanghai, as well as the collective and individual lives of its people. Especially in the 1960s and 1970s, the author, having lived through those times, writes with vivid detail, earning admiration from contemporaries and enlightenment for later generations. Many chapters in the book fill gaps in the history of Shanghai's culture, marking it as a pioneering work.
While many are eager to showcase foreign landscapes, I have grown increasingly interested in the land beneath my feet. Though born and raised here for over half a century, I may not have truly come to know the grandeur of Shanghai. I believe many Shanghai people share this sentiment. Things that are too familiar, too close at hand, are often overlooked because they are within reach, yet we rarely take a moment to examine them closely. Shanghai is like our mother—we dream in her embrace every day but rarely lift our heads to see the wrinkles on her forehead or the silver threads in her hair. We know only her youthful beauty, often flaunting old photographs of her youth. We cherish memories but never inquire about her difficult early years or the burdens she carried in her middle age. Communication with our mother is effortless, yet I still feel shocked at times. I often have to step back and re-examine her familiar yet unfamiliar figure, trying to see her more clearly and truly.
With numerous children, each with different personalities, educations, experiences, and ages, their perspectives on their mother will inevitably vary, as will their feelings. Each sees their own mother in their eyes. Is she merely a woman chasing fashion and a vibrant nightlife? Is she just a noblewoman indulging in the luxury and elegance of past mansions? From her complex background, we know she has seen the world. She has been shaped by Western influences and has experienced coexistence and diversity. Through various hardships, she has become seasoned, never overreacting or showing petty behavior. Yet she remains down-to-earth and practical. She knows that ordinary life is ordinary—without daily romance, substituting salads for meals, or blowing saxophones and dancing tango every day. The ordinary people of Shanghai still lead ordinary lives. This is life, this is existence.
Given her winding and unique journey, her profound and rich inner world, and her current graceful demeanor—grooming her hair, smoothing her clothes, standing tall with her elegant and captivating presence—some are amazed by her beauty, others seek to uncover her depths, and still others decode her mysteries. With a map in hand, one walks through her streets and alleys, hearing (Mandarin) with various accents, even other languages. Yet what one hears most often is the familiar Shanghai dialect, "" (A-la), which originated on the eastern bank of the Huangpu River and has absorbed elements of many dialects. It has taken root in the hearts of over 11 million residents, flowing effortlessly from their mouths the moment they speak. Similarly, the character traits, psychological states, and folk customs rooted in Shanghai's historical and cultural background, now an entrenched pattern, will not gradually fade or disappear with the influx of outsiders and foreigners. As long as there are people who identify as Shanghai, their shared traits will remain evident.
Therefore, if one is interested in a city and wishes to understand it deeply, they must cast a keen eye on all its aspects and the diverse people who inhabit it. Only then will they gain a comparative emotional understanding of its surface and its essence.