Shanghai is China's largest city and a global financial hub, where gleaming skyscrapers tower over historic colonial-era buildings along the iconic Bund waterfront. A dynamic metropolis blending East and West, Shanghai offers world-class dining, vibrant arts and culture, and remarkable contrasts between ancient gardens and futuristic architecture.
Shanghai's history is a story of extraordinary transformation — from a minor fishing village mentioned in the Tang Dynasty to one of the world's largest and most dynamic cities. The city's pivotal era came after the First Opium War when the 1842 Treaty of Nanking opened Shanghai as a treaty port, leading to the establishment of foreign concessions that shaped its cosmopolitan character. Between 1842 and 1943, Shanghai became the dominant commercial city in Asia, its skyline defining modernity across the continent. The Communist Revolution of 1949 briefly quieted its ambitions until Deng Xiaoping's 1992 Pudong development announcement unleashed one of history's most dramatic urban expansions.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Shanghai.
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1
First Mention of Shanghai
The Tang Dynasty establishes a military outpost at the mouth of the Wusong River; the area is a minor fishing community
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2
Shanghai Market Town
During the Song Dynasty, Shanghai develops as a market town with official market supervisors appointed by the government
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3
Shanghai County Established
The Yuan Dynasty establishes Shanghai County, marking the beginning of formal urban administration
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4
Yu Garden Created
Pan En, a high official of the Ming Dynasty, begins constructing Yu Garden for his father — one of China's finest classical gardens still standing today
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5
Treaty of Nanking — Shanghai Opens
After China's defeat in the First Opium War, the Treaty of Nanking designates Shanghai as one of five treaty ports opened to foreign trade and residence, transforming the city's trajectory
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6
British Settlement Established
Britain establishes the first foreign settlement north of the Suzhou Creek, beginning the era of foreign concessions that would define Shanghai for a century
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7
French Concession Founded
France establishes its own concession south of the British settlement, which develops distinctive tree-lined boulevards and elegant architecture
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8
International Settlement
British and American settlements merge to form the Shanghai International Settlement, creating a multinational governed zone that operates independently of Chinese law
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9
Chinese Communist Party Founded
The First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party convenes at 76 Xinye Road in Shanghai's French Concession — a building now preserved as a historic site within Xintiandi
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10
Shanghai's Golden Age
Shanghai becomes Asia's most cosmopolitan city — 'The Paris of the East' with jazz clubs, art deco architecture, vibrant culture, but also sharp class divides and revolutionary politics
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11
Japanese Occupation
Japan invades Shanghai in August 1937 after the Battle of Shanghai; the Japanese military occupies the city except the foreign concessions until 1941
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12
Total Japanese Occupation
After Pearl Harbor, Japan occupies the foreign concessions; 20,000 Jewish refugees sheltered in the Hongkou ghetto represent one of WWII's remarkable humanitarian stories
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13
Communist Liberation
The People's Liberation Army takes Shanghai on May 25, 1949; the Communist era begins and many wealthy Shanghainese flee to Taiwan and Hong Kong
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14
Pudong Development Announced
The Chinese government announces special economic zone status for Pudong — then agricultural land — launching the most dramatic urban development in history
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15
World Expo
Shanghai hosts the largest World Expo in history with 73 million visitors, culminating decades of infrastructure investment and signaling China's global rise
Historical eras
The chapters of Shanghai's past.
Ancient and Imperial Shanghai
A modestly important coastal market town and fishing community under successive imperial dynasties; established as a county in 1291 and walled in 1553 against coastal piracy
Treaty Port Era
Foreign settlement era begins with the British, American, and French establishing concessions; Shanghai transforms from provincial town to major trading port almost overnight
Shanghai's Golden Age
Shanghai becomes Asia's dominant commercial city and 'The Paris of the East'; art deco architecture flourishes, jazz clubs open, and the city produces Nobel laureates and revolutionaries
War and Revolution
Japanese occupation, WWII, Jewish refugee crisis, civil war, and Communist takeover reshape the city's trajectory; many wealthy residents flee to Hong Kong and Taiwan
Socialist Shanghai and Reform
Under Mao, foreign businesses are nationalized and the city loses its cosmopolitan character; economic reforms from 1979 and the 1990 Pudong announcement trigger Shanghai's second transformation
Historical sites
Places where Shanghai's past comes alive.
Site of the First National Congress of the CPC
The restored shikumen townhouse where 13 delegates secretly convened the founding congress of the Chinese Communist Party in July 1921. The adjacent museum provides comprehensive context. An obligatory stop for understanding modern China.
Where: 374 Huangpi South Road, Huangpu District (Xintiandi)
Admission: Free (with advance reservation)
Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum (Ohel Moishe Synagogue)
Located in the former Ohel Moishe Synagogue where 20,000 Central European Jewish refugees found sanctuary during WWII, this museum documents one of history's most remarkable humanitarian stories. Interactive audio guides bring the testimonies to life.
Where: 62 Changyang Road, Hongkou District
Admission: ¥50 ($7)
Fairmont Peace Hotel (Former Cathay Hotel)
Victor Sassoon's 1929 art deco masterpiece was Asia's most glamorous hotel in the 1930s, hosting Noël Coward, Charlie Chaplin, and Wallis Simpson. The restored interior is a living museum of Shanghai's golden age.
Where: 20 Nanjing East Road, Huangpu District
Admission: Free to enter lobby; Jazz Bar has cover charge
Yu Garden (Yuyuan Garden)
Pan En's classical garden built in 1559 for his elderly father's retirement is a masterpiece of Ming Dynasty garden design. Six themed areas with artificial hills, pavilions, and ponds have survived 450 years and multiple occupations.
Where: 218 Anren Street, Huangpu District
Admission: ¥40 ($5.50)
Longhua Temple and Pagoda
Shanghai's oldest and most historically significant Buddhist complex with a 40-meter octagonal brick pagoda dating to the Song Dynasty. The complex is still an active monastery with hundreds of monks.
Where: 2853 Longhua Road, Xuhui District
Admission: ¥10 ($1.40)
Bund Architecture Walking Tour
The 52 historic buildings on the Bund represent every major Western architectural style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries: Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Renaissance, Beaux-Arts, and Art Deco. Each has its own fascinating story — former banks, consulates, clubs, and trading houses.
Where: Zhongshan East 1st Road, Huangpu
Admission: Free (self-guided)
Museums
Curated collections that tell Shanghai's story.
Shanghai Museum
China's finest collection of ancient Chinese art across 11 galleries: bronzes, ceramics, jade, paintings, calligraphy, furniture, coins, seals, and minority art spanning 5,000 years
Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (closed Mondays)
Admission: Free (online reservation required)
Shanghai History Museum
Life-size recreations of old Shanghai streets, traditional trades, and immersive exhibits on Shanghai's development from fishing village to metropolis, housed in the base of the Oriental Pearl Tower
Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (closed Mondays)
Admission: ¥40 ($5.50)
China Art Museum (Former Expo China Pavilion)
The iconic red crown-shaped China Pavilion from the 2010 World Expo now houses China's largest art museum with an extensive collection of Chinese contemporary and modern art
Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (closed Mondays)
Admission: Free
Historical tours
Guided experiences that bring history to life.
Walking tours
Free walking tours of the Bund and French Concession daily at 10AM from the corner of Zhongshan Road and Nanjing Road East
Day tours
Historical Shanghai full-day tours from ¥400-800 including guide, transport, and major entry tickets
Private tours
Private heritage guides with deep architectural and historical knowledge from ¥600-1200/half day; recommended operators include Shanghai Insiders and SmartShanghai recommended guides