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Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army march down the Bund. Most of these soldiers were teenagers and had never seen the big city before. Many were taken aback by the ornateness and design of the buildings in the area (Pan, Qian and Xue, 1993)
Image source: Pan, Qian and Xue, 1993TRANSFORMATION OF CHINA AFTER WORLD WAR II AND THE CHINESE CIVIL WAR
TRANSFORMATION OF CHINA AFTER WORLD WAR II AND THE CHINESE CIVIL WAR
During 1911 and 1949, China went through a lot of change. It became a Republic in 1911 but then after a Civil War between the Nationalist Party of China (Kuomintang Guómíndǎng 國民黨) and the Communist Party of China (Gòngchǎndǎng 共产党), China became a communist state. However, they call their form of governance 'democratic centralism'. Democratic centralism is defined as having political decisions reached by voting processes that are binding upon all members of the party.
For a more detailed summary of the Republic of China and the history of the Communist China, check out the video below by CrashCourse ↓
For a more detailed summary of the Republic of China and the history of the Communist China, check out the video below by CrashCourse ↓
CHINA'S 'CENTURY OF HUMILIATION'
CHINA'S 'CENTURY OF HUMILIATION'
During the period of Western colonisation in Shanghai, local Chinese residents did not have a favourable view of the introduction of Western ideals and structures. Rather, this period of time was considered by the Chinese as a period of great pain and humiliation by outside Western powers.
The Chinese felt that they had little say in the treaty agreements and that they were unfair and unequal. China was forced to pay large amounts of financial reparations, open up ports for trade, and hand over or lease territories. They coined the term 'unequal treaties' to mean treaties signed between 19th and early 20th centuries by China after military attacks or threats by outside powers and it was often used to support the idea of China's 'Century of Humiliation'.
The ‘Century of Humiliation’ refers to the period between 1839-1949 regarding the intervention of imperial Western and Japanese powers in China. This terminology was commonly used by the Chinese Communist party to justify and legitimise certain actions (Rowe, 2011 as cited by Day, 2015).
Another commonly referred to example of China's humiliation is the sign on the Huangpu Park gate stating "Chinese and Dogs not Admitted". Although this exact phrasing was later proven to be false with the true phrasing being " No Chinese shall be admitted to the ground except servants of the various Clubs using the same, or of members belonging to such". This was revised in 1917 and remained in-place until 1928 to state "1. The Gardens are reserved for the foreign community. 4. Dogs and bicycles are not admitted" (Bickers and Wasserstorm, 1995).
DENG XIAOPING'S 'REFORM AND OPENING-UP POLICY' AND CHINA'S ECONOMIC REFORM
DENG XIAOPING'S 'REFORM AND OPENING-UP POLICY' AND CHINA'S ECONOMIC REFORM
After aggressive leftist policies conducted by the Communist Party of China such as the 'Great Leap Forward' and the 'Cultural Revolution', China was in a state of economic turmoil. Chairman of the Central Advisory Commission, Deng Xiaoping led the charge on China's new economic reform. Deng's focus was on improving China's economic state and led to his iconic 'reform and opening-up policy' (Gǎigé kāifàng 改革开放) that reopened China to foreign investors that Mao had prevously cut off. Deng coined this 'socialism with Chinese characteristics'.
Deng also created special economic zones in Shenzhen and along the southern coast of China that were more 'free-market' oriented and had more flexible government measures. Shanghai is now a part of these special economic zones as a part of their coastal development areas. In 1990, opened the Pudong New Area in Shanghai to foreign investment.
For more information about Deng's policies and their effect on China over the past 4 decades, check out the video below the the South China Post ↓
For more information about Deng's policies and their effect on China over the past 4 decades, check out the video below the the South China Post ↓
After China's rapid economic growth the people were looking to establish a new version of Shanghai to separate itself from its imperial past. They chose Lujiazui (Lùjiāzuǐ 陆家嘴). A small areas just opposite the Bund on the eastern Pudong (浦东) side of the Huangpu River.
After China's rapid economic growth the people were looking to establish a new version of Shanghai to separate itself from its imperial past. They chose Lujiazui (Lùjiāzuǐ 陆家嘴). A small areas just opposite the Bund on the eastern Pudong (浦东) side of the Huangpu River.
For an in-depth look at the Lujiazui, please click the image below ↓
For an in-depth look at the Lujiazui, please click the image below ↓
References
Title Image: Postcard by Sanshengyouxin, 2016, available from 3SYX_studios@sina.com
Background Image: Guo, C. (2010). 1850-2010 Shanghai : a photo contrast of past glories and new accomplishments = 1850-2010 kua yue shi ji de Shanghai cheng shi xing xiang (Di 1 ban.). Shanghai: Shanghai People’s Fine Arts Publishing House.
Bickers, R., & Wasserstrom, J. (1995). Shanghai's "Dogs and Chinese Not Admitted" Sign: Legend, History and Contemporary Symbol. The China Quarterly, (142), 444-466. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy1.library.usyd.edu.au/stable/655423
Day, K. (2015) Fengshui as a narrative of localisation: Case studies of contemporary architecture in Hong Kong and Shanghai., p. 207
Pan, L., Qian, Z., & Xue, L. (1993). Shanghai : a century of change in photographs, 1843-1949 . Hong Kong: Hai Feng Pub.
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