Welcome to “the City.” Whether you’re considering coming to Shanghai, or even if you’re already here, Shanghai has lots of surprises in store for you. The city as we know it may have gotten its start over 160 years ago, but in a country with a 5000-year history, Shanghai’s rise to prominence can be considered meteoric. Its sprawling size and winding streets are a far cry from the concentric “ring roads” of Beijing, with all of its orderly design, but Shanghai will also never be as staid as the capital, either. Owing its rapid development in part to vice (as well as foreign colonialism), the city’s dubious history has been a blemish on the face of this metropolis that the CCP has tried to clean up since the Liberation in 1949.


The vibrant metropolis is like a teenager compared to the older cities in China and, as such, it has been quick to adopt the latest trends. It is also just as capricious, as last year’s hot spots may be out of business come next year. As a result, a plethora of businesses, restaurants, and entertainment venues battle for the almighty yuan, providing expats with a multitude of choices to spend their money and leisure time.

Entrepreneurial warfare is one thing, but Shanghai has also borne witness to the real thing. From the five-weeklong WWII Battle of Zhabei in the Hongkou District, to brawls in the streets, this city has seen more than its share of violence. The streets of Shanghai have often groaned under the feet of both marching soldiers and swaggering gangsters.

Shanghai has witnessed some of humanity’s basest impulses, but it is also home to much creativity and culture. She has been the muse for both Chinese and foreign writers, inspiring the likes of Noel Coward and Edgar Snow. Shanghai is also home to many avant-garde art museums and the Shanghai Museum, with arguably the finest exhibit of Chinese bronzes, and a collection of artifacts so numerous that many pieces have yet to be put on display.

It would not be an exaggeration to claim that Shanghai is quite possibly the world’s most dynamic city, its constantly shifting layout and morphing skyline are emblematic of this mercurial metropolis. Anything is possible in this town and that rule applies to anyone and everyone. Leave your preconceptions at the door and put down that Lonely Planet guide. Constantly reinventing itself, this city is already transformed again before the ink of the latest guidebook has dried. Shanghai is something that is better experienced than explained.

That being said, I will try my best to do just that. “The City” channel is where to look for articles and commentary on Shanghai’s history, geography, and other various information about the city itself. Come to The City Channel to find current information about Shanghai that you can use presented against its historical background.


Han Shan,
TheCity Channel Manager