History of Shanghai
Shanghai, China's largest city, is directly under the central government.
Being on the east coast due west of the southern tip of Japan, it was the scene
of countless anti-imperialist struggles for a hundred years. It was divided into
foreign concessions after the Opium War in 1840 and continued to be an open port
until the 1940s. During these years, uprisings against western-powers, students'
demonstrations against Japanese invasions and armies' fights against Japanese
attacks never stopped. It was of great importance in China's revolution. The 1st
Congress of the Communist Party of China was held here secretly in 1921.
Today, Shanghai is one of China's biggest and busiest port, most important
industrial and commercial center. Its population is 12 million, with a
population density of 41,000 per square km. Its industrial products rank the
best in quality in China. It has one of China's two stock exchange markets. Its
residents are known for their business talents, quick wit and sophistication.
Its fashions and standards of products and services are more international than
other Chinese cities. Its shopping is the best in China.
For
tourists, Shanghai is a museum of 19th-century European and Japanese
architecture, though some of the buildings are not well-preserved. Its most
famous garden is Yuyuan Garden, laid out between 1559 and 1577. It now covers an
area of 20,000 square meters. The top of its Rockery Hill used to be the highest
point in the city before Shanghai's skyscrapers raised up. Visitors will note
the dragon walls, beautifully-shaped doors, bamboo groove, winding walkways and
elegant furniture's, all in a typical South China style. Nearby is Yuyuan
Market, once the busiest in the city. You can buy almost everything for house
use here, delicious food, utensils, arts and crafts. Shanghai has an excellent
museum: the Shanghai Municipal Museum, where visitors can see a large variety of
ancient relics, the demonstration of bronze casting and pottery making. In
Shanghai Art and Handicrafts Research Institute, top artisans develop new
crafts. The Jade Buddha Temple was founded in 1882. It housed 2 Buddha's, one of
which carved from one piece of white jade in Burma. Longhua Pagoda and Temple is
also a noted scenic spot. It is the oldest temple in the district. There are
Former Residence of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and Tomb of Song Qingling, Dr. Sun's widow.
There is Museum and Tomb of Lu Xun. Lu Xun was a great writer and philosopher,
honored as China's national hero. Residence of Chou En-lai is also in Shanghai.
In the outskirts of the city are 48.5-meter-high Square Pagoda, Confucius
Temple, a Roman Catholic cathedral, Grand View Garden, and Dingshan Lake.
Shanghai's Kunqu Opera is more melodic and graceful than Beijing Opera. Its food
is sweeter, lighter and prettier than other Chinese foods.
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