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Places in China: Shanghai Municipality

Going from a small fishing village during the Warring States Period in Chinese history to becoming the largest city in China has given the Shanghai Municipality so many positives. Being one of only four municipalities in China which come under the direct jurisdiction of the central government, Shanghai is unique among the many towns and cities in the country.

Looking at its past, one can hardly decide if it has been one of the most decadent cities in the world or if it is one of the world's most outstanding centres. Actually, both of those descriptions fit Shanghai. Its past has indeed included less-than-ideal residents. In the 1920s and 1930s, Shanghai's reputation suffered with rather less-than-desirable elements coming in. These included gangs, greedy factory owners, corruption among the town's cops, sailors and rich expatriate families. This was the period when many of the landmark buildings of the Bund were built.

However, before that time, shortly after the First Opium War, Britain established a settlement outside the Old City portion of Shanghai. That was in 1842. Shortly thereafter, Japan, France and the United States also got concessions in the city. This was the beginning of Shanghai's reputation as a world-class city.

Despite many years of turmoil and corruption within the city, Shanghai managed to survive. Spies, counterspies and political organizers entered to try to control the atmosphere of the place. For example, in 1922 the Communist Party held its first meeting in the French section of Shanghai. The Nationalists briefly joined ranks with the Communists but then began killing Communists within about five years.

The Japanese held the city from 1937 until after World War II. The Kuomintang (Nationalists) then controlled Shanghai until the Communists ousted them in 1949. Mao tried to change the nature of Shanghai into an industrial city for a while. Finally, Deng Xiaoping opened this city to foreigners much more, and Shanghai became an open door for foreign visitors to China. The Reform and Opening Up of 1970 helped to bring Shanghai back into the world city showcase.

With a past which has included so many international influences and business interests, Shanghai has become a haven for business enterprises. Its location at the mouth of the Yangtze River and its border on the Pacific Ocean has encouraged many business ventures to open here. This Special Economic Zone has benefits available for new enterprises in the country.

Of course, tourism has been benefiting Shanghai for some time. There are many attractions in the city which bring in worldwide visitors. The Bund, the very tall Oriental Pearl TV Tower, some of the world's tallest buildings, museums, parks and nightlife which can match that of anywhere on Earth are only the beginning of the list of Shanghai's attractions.

Shanghai is now China's financial centre. Pudong is a new business district in the city and is classified as a tariff-free zone. The Bund is old Shanghai's commercial heart with the river on one side, and opposite are what formerly were banks and trading houses. Nanjing Lu (Nanjing Road) is the busiest of China's shopping streets. At present, three hundred of the top five hundred businesses in the world have offices in the city of Shanghai.

Unlike Beijing, which has so many historical sites to be seen, Shanghai is a much younger city. Crowds of tourists are not so plentiful here as in the nation's capital. In Shanghai, one can walk, explore and discover the city in his own style and take his own time. The city continues to grow. Seventeen percent of the world's cranes are found in Shanghai with more construction going on all the time.

Shanghai's new airport, constructed in 1999, is planning expansion already. For many people, Shanghai is the first glimpse they get of China, and it is impressive.