After defeating China in the "Opium War" in 1842, Britain forced China to open a concession in Shanghai and afterwards, all the Western powers, America and Japanese, turned Shanghai into their heaven and made this city immune completely from Chinese governing. "Dog and Chinese are not allowed". That was what some restaurants posted on the door at that time. All the money they made from selling opium and China trade had pour into the International Settlement to build the highest buildings and the biggest banks in Asia. Even after Qing was overturned, Kuomintang, now retreated to Taiwan, still worked in cooperation with the foreign powers to suppress any unrest in this city.

The Hongkou area in Shanghai is well known as the main asylum for Jewish refugees during World War II. Fleeing from Austria, Poland, Russia and Germany, these immigrants had to leave all their possessions behind and came to Shanghai virtually penniless. Shanghai was the only city over the world at that time to receive Jewish refugees without identity and the Jewish community managed to retain its cultures, traditions and social lifestyle during those war time. Comparing with the Chinese immigrants settled down in North America and Europe, Jewish immigrants were very lucky and fairly treated.  

It is until 1949 that the current government took back the city and abolished all the concessions and International Settlement. Child and slave labors were eliminated. A new order was put in place. From there on, the western gang and Japan, after being driven out of China, have been teaming up to against China.

Today Shanghai is a brand new city with many foreign investments competing fairly and equally in the market. New financial center, new airport, many highway and industrial complex have been built. It is still so colorful and dynamic but without drug, prostitute, foreign concessions and gangster. It is more healthy and pleasant than the old Shanghai

Places of interests:

• International Settlement
• America Settlement
• Frenchtown
• Jade Buddha Temple
• Pudong