© 1998 mao@hkstar.com
Shanghai ; the city that contend to Beijing the position of "Most important city " of all China.
In fact by all means Beijing is the Historical and Political Capital of China but if you are looking for the most active city; the most frenzied ; the one with the biggest economical groth in all China , then is Shanghai the city where you have to go.
Historically Shanghai doesn't have the same back ground of the Capital and untill the 1840's has only been a fishing village with some activity in the textile field.
It was after the first Opium War that the destiny of this village chaged ; when the British asked and obtained the concession of the place.
Shanghai was a port geographically protected since was on the banks of the Huangpu river and therefore had all charatteristics to be an access to Mainland China.
After Guangzhou (Canton) the very first gate to a whole Country to exploit ; a Country that had always been reluctant to allow access to the Wai Guo Ren (The foreigners ) but that after the first Opium War was forced to give concessions.
In 1842 the first establishments of the British folowed almost immidietelly by French and Japanese ( also Americans ; Italians and Germans had interests and activities in the City).
Shanghai was practically divided in different autonomos zones where Chinese law was not in force.
In few years it became an International "Colony" and went through massive changes ; an incredible growth ; an enormous expansion.
In 1930's almost all the main Finance Companies were involved in a way or in another with Shanghai and had some interests there.
The skyline of the city had also a drastic change and by the same period were built the tallest building of all Asia . The traffic on the roads was very similar to many western big cities.
Shanghai was with all the reasons considered a commercial power.
All of this was not achieved "free of charge " and the wealth was divided ( as often the history teach us ) between the foreigners Companies ; the merchants and the few local dealers.
The city actually was paying a high price : there was a proliferation of Opium related activities ; Brothels ; House of Gambling.
All , of course , out of the restriced and "nobel" foreign zones.
We can say that Shanghai in the 30's was a two faces city.
In 1947 , then , the Comunist took the power , abolished the foreign concessions and started a new phase of the history of this city.
Shanghai , anyway , and the Shanghainese who always remained very active ,had hard time to follow the "close door " policy imposed from Beijing and they have always struggled untill they have obtained the status of "Special Zone" having the possibility of autonomy at least for a certain number of decisions.
Shanghai has probably been for the Central Government of the Comunist China the first experiment of "Special Economic Zone " a model so much utilized in the recent years in different places of the Country.
Nowdays Shanghai represent with no doubts the most reach city of all China and the one with more economical growth.
It represent the possibility for comunism and capitalism (although in a primitive form)to survive together giving a clear message for other places of China.
A liberalization of the market that actracted many investors from all over the world to this ex fishing village on the banks of the Huangpu River.
For a tourist Shanghai is a place where you can see either the modern China and the tipical frenzied activity on the roads of the city.
Is possible to visualize the shining past of this city fighting and merging at the same time with the modern city which is exploding more vital than ever.
For sure an interesting mix.
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