Old City of Shanghai
Encyclopedia
The Old City of Shanghai refers to the most ancient area of Shanghai
. It is circular in shape even today, and used to be surrounded by a defensive wall. Notable features include the City God Temple which is located in the center of the Old City and is connected to the Yuyuan Garden. Today, most of the walls have been replaced by broad circular avenues, the Renmin Lu to the North and Zhonghua Lu to the South.
. It measured 10 metres high and 5 kilometres in circumference.
There were originally 6 gates built into the structure, and 3 water gates:
A protective moat surrounded the wall, 20 meters large and 6 meters deep, which was accessed though 3 "Water Gates" (two in the east, one in the west).
In 1860 a new gate was created, the "New Northern Gate" (新北門 or 障川門). In 1909, three new gates were pierced:
.
During the Taiping Rebellion
in 1853, the Old City was captured by the forces of the Small Swords Society
. The Governor of Shanghai Wu Jianzhang fled to the British Concession and had to transfer control of trade to the foreigners in exchange for help in retaking the city. Also, after 1854, the Chinese were allowed to live outside of the Old City and could settle in the Foreign Concessions.
, then new Governor of Shanghai. Today only a very small portion remains, which has been transformed into a museum, the Dàjìng Gé Pavillon
(上海古城墙和大境阁).
Today the Old City contains some ancient but renovated features, such as the Yuyuan Garden complex, and the City God Temple. Its circular shape is now imprinted by the surrounded large streets which occupy the space of the former walls, the Renmin Lu to the North and Zhonghua Lu to the South. The Old City has also been cut in the middle North to South by Henan Lu. The Old City is a combination of ancient winding streets, with some modern high-rise buildings progressively encroaching on the older areas.
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. It is circular in shape even today, and used to be surrounded by a defensive wall. Notable features include the City God Temple which is located in the center of the Old City and is connected to the Yuyuan Garden. Today, most of the walls have been replaced by broad circular avenues, the Renmin Lu to the North and Zhonghua Lu to the South.
Fortifications
An original city wall dating back to the 11th century surrounded the ancient city of Shanghai. The city wall, parts of which remain to this day, was built in 1554, in order to protect the town from raids by Japanese piratesWokou
Wokou , which literally translates as "Japanese pirates" in English, were pirates of varying origins who raided the coastlines of China and Korea from the 13th century onwards...
. It measured 10 metres high and 5 kilometres in circumference.
There were originally 6 gates built into the structure, and 3 water gates:
| Gates of the Old City of Shanghai | |||
| Old City maps | Gate | Images | |
Map of Shanghai in Shanghai Xianzhi Shanghai Xianzhi The Shanghai Xianzhi or "Shanghai Gazetteer" is an ancient gazetteer for the city of Shanghai. It is one of the numerous Xianzhi that were redacted in China in ancient times.A Shanghai Xianzhi is known from 1524.... . Map of Shanghai (made in 1553). Map of Shanghai (made circa 1860) Map of Shanghai (made circa 1860) Red: Old gates. Blue: Water gates. Green: New gates (1909) |
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| Small Northern Gate (小北門 or 拱辰門) (built 1909) | |||
| Old Northern Gate 老北門 also: 晏海門 "Gate of the Peaceful Sea" |
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| New Northern Gate 新北門 (built 1860) also: 障川門 |
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| New Eastern Gate (新東門, 福佑門) (built 1909) | |||
| Small Eastern Gate 小東門 also: 宝帯門 "Gate of the Diamond Belt" |
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| Small Eastern Water Gate 小東門水門 also: 小東門處跨方浜 |
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| Great Eastern Gate 大東門 also: 朝宗門 "Gate of Dynastic Ancestors" |
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| Eastern Water Gate 東門水門 | |||
| Small Southern Gate 小南門 also: 朝陽門 "Gate of the Rising Sun" |
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| Great Southern Gate 大南門 also: 跨龍門 "Gate of the Leaping Dragon" |
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| Small Western Gate (小西門 or 尚文門) (built 1909) | |||
| Western Water Gate 西門水門 also: 西門跨肇嘉浜 |
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| Old Western Gate Laoximen Laoximen (Shanghai Metro) Laoximen is the name of an interchange station between Lines 8 and 10 on the Shanghai Metro. It began operation on December 29, 2007.The name of the station is derived from the old gate of Laoximen in the Old City of Shanghai.... 老西門 also: 儀鳳門 "Gate of the Virtuous Phoenix" |
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A protective moat surrounded the wall, 20 meters large and 6 meters deep, which was accessed though 3 "Water Gates" (two in the east, one in the west).
In 1860 a new gate was created, the "New Northern Gate" (新北門 or 障川門). In 1909, three new gates were pierced:
- the Small Western Gate (小西門 or 尚文門)
- the Small Northern Gate (小北門 or 拱辰門)
- the New Eastern Gate (新東門, 福佑門).
Old City and Foreign Concessions
The Old City remained in place, while new urban areas were being developed on the outskirt though Concessions after the Opium War in 1842. The Old City remained, and was known as the "Chinese City", while the Concessions were named "Northern City" (北城), where only foreigners could live. During the period of Concessions, numerous Chinese lived in packed conditions in the Old City, which functioned as a sort of ghettoGhetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
.
During the Taiping Rebellion
Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion was a widespread civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864, led by heterodox Christian convert Hong Xiuquan, who, having received visions, maintained that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ, against the ruling Manchu-led Qing Dynasty...
in 1853, the Old City was captured by the forces of the Small Swords Society
Small Swords Society
Small Swords Society was a political and military organisation active in Shanghai, China and neighbouring areas during the Taiping Rebellion....
. The Governor of Shanghai Wu Jianzhang fled to the British Concession and had to transfer control of trade to the foreigners in exchange for help in retaking the city. Also, after 1854, the Chinese were allowed to live outside of the Old City and could settle in the Foreign Concessions.
Destruction of the wall
The Old City walls were dismantled in 1912 by General Chen QimeiChen Qimei
Chen Qimei was a Chinese revolutionary activist, close political ally of Sun Yat-sen, and early mentor of Chiang Kai-shek. He was as one of the founders of the Republic of China, and the uncle of Chen Guofu and Chen Lifu....
, then new Governor of Shanghai. Today only a very small portion remains, which has been transformed into a museum, the Dàjìng Gé Pavillon
Dàjìng Gé Pavillon
The Dàjìng Gé Pavillon is a museum and ancient temple of Shanghai, incorporating the last remaining portions of the walls of the Old City of Shanghai. Most of the walls were dismantled in 1912, and today only this portion remains....
(上海古城墙和大境阁).
Today