History of Shanghai

The history of Shanghai spans over a thousand years and closely parallels the development of modern China. Originally a small agricultural village, Shanghai developed during the late Qing dynasty (1644–1912) as one of China’s principal trading ports. Since the economic reforms of the early 1990s the city has burgeoned to become one of Asia’s major financial centers^[1] and the world’s busiest container port.
Early Era

Ming dynasty

Qing dynasty

Republic of China

End of Old Shanghai (1937–1945)

Tightened Communist rule (1949–1980s)

Economic and cultural rebound (1990s–Present)