Shanghai - An Chronicle of a Modern Metropolis

Author: Xiong Yuezhi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: In the world of cities, Shanghai's personality is also distinct. She shares similarities with cities like London, Paris, and New York in terms of trade functions, entertainment functions, and immigrant populations; she also shares similarities with cities like Calcutta, Mumbai, and Hong Kong in terms of Western influence, yet she is quite different. Unlike London and Paris, she did not evolve from a traditional central city into a modern metropolis. Unlike New York and Los Angeles, she was not formed as an immigrant city under complete sovereignty. She is also different from Calcutta, Mumbai, and Hong Kong, as she was not entirely developed from a barren wasteland under the control of colonialists. The path of modern Shanghai is unique. Since the reform and opening-up, Shanghai's development model has also been unique. The development and opening-up of Pudong, the coordinated rise of Pudong and Puxi, major adjustments in the economic structure, production layout, industrial structure, urban landscape, large-scale relocation of millions of residents, mass retraining of millions of workers, and massive population movement—all were unprecedented and well-organized.
There are already abundant works about the city of Shanghai. There are extensive volumes like A Comprehensive History of Shanghai and A Comprehensive Gazetteer of Shanghai, light-hearted anecdotes and legends, practical manuals and guides, as well as colorful and beautifully printed albums, photo collections, postcards, and monthly calendars. However, as scholars who have long studied the history of Shanghai, from the perspective of social needs and academic research, we feel that Shanghai still needs a knowledge-based reading material that is factually accurate, concisely written, and appropriately sized, combining scientific rigor, readability, and practicality. It can serve as a historical reference and as a teaching tool.