This latest National Geographic Magazine article's author, W. Robert Moore, may be slightly prejudiced about this large China city, "Greatest seaport in the Far East and emporium to one-eighth of the human race is Shanghai!" Cosmopolitan shanghai, Key Seaport of China, September, 1932, p. 310. A quick Google check reveals that Shanghai is the largest city in the world (2013) at 24 million!
FYI: I love it when the names of these cities stay the same from 1932 to 2014!!
Shanghai is ideally situated for an important port city; "approximately midway along the China Coast, makes it at once the most natural distributing center for extensive trade with coastal ports, but of far greater importance is the fact that Shanghai commands the vital position for commerce at the very outlet of the whole Yangtze River system" (p. 310).
China officially opened Shanghai to foreign trade in 1843. Prior to that, the city was a small fishing village. ". . . the focus of all Shanghai is the foreign settlements, for in them have been the remarkable incentive and expanding force that have built this modern seaport," (p. 325).
The city had a most unusual government in 1932, a council "elected by the taxpayers of British, American, Japanese, and, more recently, Chinese nationality," (p. 325). The separate French territory had its own council. Troops of all these nations were kept in the area to maintain peace. In 1932, the metro area had more than 3 million residents. At that time, our American sailors were called "Blue Jackets."
There were striking contrasts in the city, especially evident in the section of color photographs. Alongside motorized trucks were the ancient rickshaws, pulled by one man. Next to the very wealthy were the beggars. In the port were warships, ocean liners, and the traditional Chinese junks. It all worked then.
FYI: "Until the recent disturbances in Shanghai and Manchuria, it was possible to reach Moscow or Paris in 15 or 16 days from Shanghai" by railway. . . Mail service to European capitals in 16 days, as contrasted with a full month or more by sea," (p. 335). This makes me appreciate more our modern services!
The author concludes with a prediction: "given peace to pursue its plans, it will go even further in its phenominal expansion as key seaport and clearing house for the increased needs of awakening China," (p. 335).
Most interesting!
No comments:
Post a Comment