Western Influence On Modern Day Shanghai

Modern day Shanghai represents a bustling city with rapid urbanization and a significant foreign influence that has become an economic, global center. It is important to note, however, that it took centuries for Shanghai to be molded into this current, dynamic, fiscal city. From the 5th to the 7th century, Shanghai was sparsely populated. This inability to promote settlement within the region was largely due to the “deltaic position of the area” that ultimately retarded the city’s economic growth. During the Song Dynasty, as a result of the Mongol’s invading China, many Chinese migrated towards Shanghai taking advantage of its coastal location. In the 11th century, a customs office was established in Shanghai symbolizing the emergence of the
The Westerners that settled in Shanghai were scattered with an all-male demographic. Due to the inability to rent their desired quarters, the Westerners settled North of the walled city, in an area later becoming known as the French Concession and the location of International Settlement. The growth of Western influence was exemplified by the establishment of European banks, as well as commercial housing. The trade relationship between Western nations and China was intensified by the growing market demand for raw silk and tea. Due to growing turmoil between the Manchu-led Qing dynasty and the Christian Millenarian movement of the Heavenly Kingdom of Peace, the Taiping Rebellion altered the trajectory of major trade. As a method of economic disturbance, Canton, a rival foreign trade port, was cut off from trade. Seeing an opportunity to take advantage of a weakened China, the British took control of the Yangtze, which continued to alter the shift of trade to benefit a rapidly growing Shanghai. Furthermore, by 1860, Shanghai was the leading port for import/exportation with 25% of the total shipping in the
At the time, Shanghai was not viewed as an industrial center (Exception: Jianguan Arsenal). The scattered industrial industries were branches of the larger foreign companies. After the turmoil created by the Taiping Rebellion, the region experienced capital flight due to the insuing instability of such a conflict. In contrast, during the Sino-Japanese war, light industries were established promoting the flow of capital back into the county. Ultimately ???something happened???, bringing new treaty rights and the additional opening of ports allowing for foreigners to be able to establish legal factories within China. ???Something occurred??? leading to territorial concessions between foreign nations looking to settle and promote business in China. This relationship between foreign nations and China continued to develop and fostered the growth of Shanghai as a global hub. Early twentieth century Shanghai was a product of rapid modernization, thus breaking away from China’s indigenous urban experience due to: infrastructure development, the reinvention of the middle class, population expansion, infusion of foreign identity, and transformation of China’s value system. Ultimately, this shift molded Shanghai into an progressive, urban