China's Largest City: Shanghai
310,464
Published 2022-06-22
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Script:
Of all the cities on earth, the pace of civilizational transformation is most evident here. With over 25,000 buildings standing 12 stories or more, it has more high rises than anywhere else and is the most important economic engine in China. But there are real challenges on the horizon for this city of 25 million: some that took a pandemic to fully emerge, and others that grow more frightening with each passing year.
This is Shanghai, a bellwether of the 21st century.
The most populous city in the People’s Republic of China rises on the low-lying swamplands where the tributaries and lakes of the Yangtze River Delta meet the East China Sea, and the vast Pacific Ocean beyond.
Founded in the tenth century, its easy access to the extensive Asian interior made it an ideal location for those seeking to trade regionally and - eventually - with the empires of the West. In the 1800s, after a prolonged struggle with imperialists who used subterfuge and sabotage - like hooking millions, China was forced to allow foreigners greater access to its markets–and control over much of Shanghai. The city became a foothold for the British, French, Americans, and Japanese, who took possession of designated areas in the city, called “concessions,” where they established businesses that extracted great resources and wealth. Many Chinese call this the “century of humiliation.” Shanghai was essentially split into a “Chinese” half and a more modern European-styled “Western” half home to around 35,000 foreigners. Despite this dysfunction, the combined area thrived and by the mid-1930s it was one of the largest cities in the world with three million inhabitants.
Shanghai is where the second world truly began, as Japan unleashed Blitzkrieg. The combination of siege warfare and aerial bombardment, followed by attacks and house-to-house fighting, produced the horrific scenes now associated with Europe, but was first reported in China’s megacity.
Despite this nightmare, a glimmer of humanity still flickered in Shanghai, as evidenced by its unconditional welcoming of any Jews fleeing.
The war’s aftermath brought the Communists to power. This forced many foreign businesses to move south to independent Hong Kong. Despite this drain on capital and talent, the economic heart of the People’s Republic of China remained in Shanghai, and for the next four decades, this vital port city provided 70% of all the tax revenue that was collected and spent nationwide by China’s central party, whose bureaucrats were ensconced in Beijing–1,100 km away.
This was an untenable burden on the Shanghainese, and in 1991 two of their local leaders seized a rare opportunity to change things. After the crackdown on student protesters in Tiananmen Square in 1989, China’s Paramount Leader Deng Xiaoping wanted new management in Beijing. The reins of power were turned over to two former mayors of Shanghai: Jiang Zemin, who succeeded Xiaoping as paramount leader, and Zhu Rongji, who became Vice Premier. They declared that Shanghai would be the “dragon’s head” of China’s modernization.
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All Comments (21)
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This series is what made this channel I don't know why you stopped.
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I missed your megacities series. So glad it is back!
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Had the pleasure of living in Shanghai for a summer in college - the pace of construction is no joke, what would take years in any other city only takes a month in Shanghai. Also the size of the buildings in on the waterfront in Pudong is no joke, its like having 10 different World Trade Centers next to each other. One specific thing that surprised me a lot in Shanghai was the subway is actually very easy to get around and understand vs other large cities.
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Chinese top-tier mega cities are the best example of modern, fast-paced development. Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou are eye-candies. Truly magnificent and amazing. It is far from being the ideal one but no one can deny that it changed so many lives
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A TDC video is awesome. A TDC megacity video is the best thing I'll watch all month. So glad to see this and hope to see more.
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I lived in Shanghai for two years and I had the time of my life, I used to live in the French concessions and literally Shanghai doesn't ask anything to other big metropolis in the world. It has all kinds of restaurants, cute cafes, cool bars, galleries, shops, etc. Also it was so diverse, my yoga instructor was Australian and all the other people attending the class from all over the world. Uhh I miss it now, maybe one day I'll be back.
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always happy to see a TDC notification on my phone, glad you’re still uploading
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My favourite city 💕💕 love from India 🇮🇳.
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growing up in shanghai i thought all cities around the world was like this until i visited US and India
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I’m so glad to see this series come back. Glad to see this fantastic work man.
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I;m an architect living in shanghai for 12 years. I have seen the main rise of the urban and architecture development in the last decade. Cudos to the producer, as most of the information is true to most extend. The issues about flood problems, espcially with tyhphoon during summer months are an issue that existed already hundreds of years ago. And until rising sea levels will effect shanghai, the city will come up with a mega-plan, that i am sure of😄
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Such a good video, I’m so glad you’re back!
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I lived in Shanghai and loved it; it's the best city in Asia for what it offers (if not for the air quality). A city where yesterday meets tomorrow New cities in Asia are modelled after the Shanghai Development Model, which was the fastest-growing city in the world. It became a megapolis and a modern city in less than two decades. But I hope they also restore its old charms, let old districts co-exists, which were being replaced by new, large shopping malls and skyscrapers with each passing month all around. Also, income disparity was increasing at an alarming pace. Shanghai has so much to offer, even more than Tokyo in terms of experiences, nightlife, affordable taxis and its infrastructural quality is better and more massively scaled than any city in the USA.
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Ah the long awaited Shanghai 😌. Amazing video as always.
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I had the absolute privilege of being in Shanghai throughout seven years of senior school and the fact that I still think about it as often as I do is a testament to the magnetism and charisma of the place. Love the vid
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Fantastic video! Loving these so much
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Pudong wasn't actually a maze of historic streets, but an industrial/ rural district of factories, warehouses and paddy fields. Also China is now a Services dominated economy, and although still robust in manufacturing, it's 'workforce' is largely robotised, a sea change over the last decade. The Chinese population is now nearing 75% middle class in the cities and 60% overall (by comparison US is 50%)
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I just discovered your channel. Amazing work!
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China Suzhou, Guangzhou, Chongqin and Shanghai, 🇨🇳 My Dream Place! The Place for getting Rich! 😍🇨🇳🤗😍
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Great job, Bryce! Well made. I recognized a number of the animated and motion graphics clips we made together ;-)
