How Shanghai achieved "butterfly changes" in the past 180 years, from opening to the outside world

On October 6, the international academic symposium "From Opening to Opening Up: 180 Years of Urbanization in Shanghai" was held at the Xuhui Campus of Shanghai Normal University. Lin Zaiyong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai Normal University, Wang Weisong, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Full-time Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Social Social Sciences, Ge Jianxiong, Professor of Fudan University, Zhang Qing, President of the Shanghai Historical Society, and Guo Changgang, Director of the Institute of History of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, successively delivered speeches at the opening ceremony.

In 1843, with the signing of the Treaty of Nanjing and its affiliated treaties, Shanghai was opened as a treaty port and gradually developed from an ordinary coastal county into an international metropolis. Participants pointed out that over the past 180 years, Shanghai has achieved "butterfly transformation" amidst the vicissitudes of history and exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, becoming a unique example in the process of world urban development and globalization. Shanghai's open, innovative and inclusive urban character has played an important role in China's modernization process. On the new historical journey, Shanghai has the confidence and ability to write new miracles of development in the new era.

Professor Lu Hanchao from the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States gave a speech focusing on several major transitions and debates in the urban development of modern Shanghai. He believes that from the opening of Shanghai in 1843 to the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War in 1937, Shanghai developed from a remote county in the corner of the sea to the largest city in China and a world-class metropolis in less than a century. It is extremely rare in the history of urban development in China and even the world. It was not entirely commercial factors that contributed to this result. Major events in China's modern history and the revolutionary war all led to changes in the direction of urban development. As far as urban development planning is concerned, there have been four far-reaching debates in Shanghai since the opening of the port: the dispute between Chinese and foreigners for isolation, the dispute between Chinese and foreign residents, the dispute over the Shanghai City Wall, and the dispute over the status of the concession. The starting point of all these debates and discussions at that time was the municipal administration, and the core was reform. The result was the further opening and development of the city.

Researcher Xiong Yuezhi of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences pointed out that in modern times, Shanghai unexpectedly became a "community of interests between China and foreign countries" in a sense due to the intricate effects of various international and domestic factors. Extraterritoriality, the existence of concessions, and wartime neutrality are the political prerequisites for the formation of this community. The opening of Shanghai as a port and the mixing of China and foreign countries are the original and most critical factors. It should be pointed out that this community clearly showed the characteristics of the West being strong and the middle being weak, and the West being dominant and the middle being auxiliary, which reflected China's actual situation at that time.

Professor Su Zhiliang, Director of the Urban Culture Research Center of Shanghai Normal University, sorted out the historical events of Shanghai since its opening as a port in 1843, summarized the city's urbanization process in the past 180 years, and emphasized its geographical location as the intersection of the East and the West. , business culture tradition, open spirit and other factors play an important role in urban development. He believes that Shanghai has played an important role in China's modernization process at different historical stages. Since its opening in 1843, Shanghai has gradually transformed from a regional port city into an international city, becoming an important hub for Sino-Western trade. After entering the 20th century, Shanghai became the financial, commercial, foreign trade and industrial center of East Asia, which also gave rise to the rise of Shanghai-style culture. After the founding of New China, Shanghai was transformed into an industrial manufacturing city. Since the development and opening up of Pudong, Shanghai has accelerated the pace of modernization and made brilliant achievements that have attracted the attention of the world. Openness, innovation and inclusiveness are important secrets to Shanghai's success.

At the meeting, researcher Ma Jun from the Institute of History of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences read out a written speech by Professor Hiroben Gao Gang, honorary professor of Nihon University and former president of the Japan Shanghai History Research Association. In the past 33 years, the Japan Shanghai History Research Society has made important contributions to Japan’s in-depth understanding of the history and culture of Shanghai through academic research, international exchanges and publishing work, and promoted cooperation and exchanges between Chinese and Japanese scholars.

In addition to the keynote speeches of the conference, this seminar also offered topics such as "The Political Situation of the Late Qing Dynasty and Modern Shanghai", "New Cities, New Explorations and New Achievements", "Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs", "Urban History", "Shanghai Culture and Urban Spirit" Urban Culture" "Special Session on "New Shanghai Historical Atlas" "Historical Geography" "Character Group Research" "Industry, Workers and the Labor Movement" "Historical Materials and Historical Writing" "Immigration and Aliens" "Urban Renewal" "Social Governance" and other special seminars. The conference also has an online international venue, inviting overseas scholars to discuss important academic issues since Shanghai opened as a port 180 years ago.

This conference was hosted by the School of Humanities of Shanghai Normal University and the Institute of History of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, and co-organized by the Shanghai Historical Society.