Oriental City: Shanghai

Author: Xie Xinfa et al
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-02-01
Features: Shanghai is the crystallization of the wisdom and diligence of the Chinese people. Centuries ago, Shanghai was just a small fishing village on the riverbank. It evolved and developed into a city through a legendary process. From the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century, the changes and development of Shanghai embodied the bitterness and pain of the Chinese people. This period of history can be said to be a microcosm of modern Chinese history. A poor and weak China, transitioning from isolation to openness, was a passive and humiliating process, and the footsteps of Shanghai bear witness to this. In the latter half of the 20th century, the path Shanghai took can also be seen as the history of the New China's winding progress. As a native of Shanghai, I have a deep affection for this city. Over half a century, I have witnessed its vigor and also experienced its hesitation and transformation. In the pages of history already turned, she once stumbled and also felt constrained and helpless. However, in my memory, Shanghai has always been a city with a rich expression. Its winding and unique history is like a colorful cape draped over it, making its image unparalleled in China and in the world. Today, Shanghai is even more showcasing its vibrant image to the world through ever-changing transformations. To say Shanghai is the most beautiful city in the world might be a bit exaggerated. But if we say Shanghai is the most dynamic city, I think most people would agree. No one can deny that in the past decade, Shanghai has been undergoing tremendous changes, becoming fresher and more modern. The changes in Shanghai have attracted the attention of the entire world. Regarding the characteristics and transformations of our city, the most sensitive photographers. The photographer's lens can truly and vividly display the current state of our city. Her dawns and dusks, her joys and sorrows, her openness and depth, her grandeur and subtlety, her classical and modern, her ever-changing expressions, her vibrant steps—all of this comes to life through the photographer's lens. Photos are partial and microscopic. Sometimes, a photographer can magnify a partial and microscopic detail to reveal every tiny detail. Compared to words, photos may reflect reality more directly and truthfully. Capturing countless angles, freezing countless moments, bringing the expression of Shanghai to the forefront of people's eyes.