Timeline of Shanghai

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Shanghai in China.

Prior to 1800

5th-7th c. CE - Fishing village develops where Suzhou Creek enters the Huangpu River.
751 CE - Area becomes part of Huating county.
976 CE - Longhua Temple rebuilt.
12th c. - Market town develops.
1216 - Jing'an Temple built.
1292 - Town becomes county seat.
1294 - Wen Miao active.
1554 - City walls constructed.
1732 - Customs office relocated to Shanghai from Songjiang.
1780 - Yu Garden opens.
1789 - Guyi Garden becomes communal property.

1800-1900

1842
* 19 June: Shanghai taken by British forces.
* Shanghai opens to foreigners per Treaty of Nanking.
1843 Captain George Balfour appointed British consul.
1845
* David Sassoon & Sons in business.
* British settlement established on outskirts of Old City.
1846 - Richards' Hotel and Restaurant in business.
1849 - French Concession granted.
1850
* North-China Herald newspaper begins publication.
* Collège Saint Ignace founded.
1851 - Jardine, Matheson & Co. branch built.
1853
* Small Swords Society occupies Old City.
* April: Shanghai Volunteer Corps organized.
1854
* Imperial Maritime Custom Offices installed.
* Shanghai Municipal Council formed by westerners.
1855 - Shanghai Race Club founded.
1856 - Wills' Bridge constructed.
1857 - Royal Asiatic Society North-China Branch established.
1859 - Astor House Hotel in business.
1860
* August: Taiping rebels unsuccessfully attempt to take city.
* New Northern Gate built into city wall.
1861
* Battle of Shanghai (1861).
* Correspondent's Club formed by British residents.
1862
* American settlement established.
* Saint Joseph's Church consecrated.
1863 - Hongkou becomes part of American Concession.
1865
* Kiangnan Arsenal and Long Men College established.
* Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation branch opens.
* British Supreme Court for China established.
* Gas lighting introduced.
1866 - Butterfield & Swire in business.
1868 - Musee de Zikawei founded.
1869 - Holy Trinity Church consecrated; designed by George Gilbert Scott.
1871 - August: Typhoon.
1872 - Shen Bao newspaper begins publication.
1874
* Rickshaws introduced.
* Natural history museum established by Royal Asiatic Society North-China Branch.
1876 - Woosung Railway begins operating.
1881 - Population: 302,767.
1882
* Jade Buddha Temple founded.
* Electricity introduced.
1884 - Dianshizhai-huabao begins publication.
1889 - Ostasiatischer Lloyd newspaper begins publication.
1895 - Population: 411,753.
1896 - Nanyang Public School and Consulate-General of Russia in Shanghai established.
1897
* April: wheelbarrow riots
* 22 June: British nationals conduct jubilee events.
1898
* Songhu Railway begins operating.
* Bubbling Well cemetery established.

1900-2000

1900s

1901 - Hardoon & Company in business.
1905 - Kiangnan Shipyard and Fudan College established.
1907 - Waibaidu Bridge constructed.
1908
* Nanjing-Shanghai Railway, Shanghai South railway station, Palace Hotel, and New Stage built.
* Electric tram begins operating.
* Art exhibit held in Shanghai Mutual Telephone Company building.
* Hongkou cinema opens.
1909
* Shanghai railway station and Shanghai Industrial College established.
* Shanghai–Hangzhou Railway begins operating.
* New gates built into city wall.

1910s

1910
* St. Ignatius Cathedral and Shanghai Club Building constructed.
* Shanghai Oil Painting Institute, and Eastern City Women's Art School founded.
1912 - Old City walls dismantled.
1913 - Shanghai Art School, Women's Art and Embroidery Institute, and Xinmin Theater Research Society founded.
1914 - Trolleybus begins operating along Fokein Road.
1916 - Asia Building and Union Building constructed on The Bund.
1917
* Millard's Review of the Far East begins publication.
* Sincere Department Store branch in business.

1920s

1920 - Shanghai Mint established.
1921
* July: Chinese Communist Party founded during meeting in Xintiandi.
* Mingxing Film Company founded.
1923
* Hongqiao Airport in operation.
* Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation building constructed.
1924 - General Post Office Building and North China Daily News Building constructed.
1925
* 30 May: Protest quashed; May Thirtieth Movement launched.
* Shanghai East Library opens.
* Tianyi Film Company in business.
* Institute of Chartered Accountants organized.
1927
* Shanghai Commune of 1927 active.
* 12 April: Shanghai massacre of 1927.
* 7 July: Huang Fu becomes mayor.
* Shanghai Conservatory of Music founded.
* Customs House, Zhapu Road Bridge, and Ohel Moishe Synagogue built.
* City becomes a special municipality.
1928 - Fahua District becomes part of city.
1929
* Chang Ch'ün becomes mayor.
* Shanghai Stock Exchange formed.
* Xinmin Po and Shanghai Evening Post & Mercury newspapers begin publication.
* Sassoon House built.

1930s

1930 - Nanking Theatre founded.
1932
* January 28 Incident
* January: Wu Tiecheng becomes mayor.
* Grand Theatre rebuilt.
1933 - Paramount Ballroom opens.
1934 - Shanghai Joint Savings Society Building constructed.
1935
* EWO Brewery Ltd. in business.
* Sheshan Basilica and Broadway Mansions built.
1937
* April: Yu Hung-Chun becomes mayor.
* 13 August - 26 November: Battle of Shanghai; Japanese occupation begins.
* 26 October - 1 November: Defense of Sihang Warehouse.
* Bank of China Building constructed.
1938 - Wen Hui Bao newspaper begins publication.
1939 - Shanghai Jewish Chronicle begins publication.

1940s

1940 - November: Chen Gongbo becomes mayor.
1943 - British and American concessions end.
1944 - December: Zhou Fohai becomes mayor.
1945
* Japanese occupation ends.
* August: K. C. Wu becomes mayor.
* City divided into 30 administrative districts.
* Shanghai Theatre Academy established.
1946 - French concession ends.
1947 – Constitution of the Republic of China passes.
1949
* Rao Shushi becomes Shanghai Party Committee Secretary.
* May: Chen Yi becomes mayor.
* May–June: Shanghai Campaign.
* Jiefang Daily newspaper begins publication.
* Shanghai Film Studio founded.
* October: Proclamation of the People's Republic of China.
* Shanghai residents find refuge on the island of Taiwan with some fleeing to Hong Kong.

1950s

1950
* Chen Yi becomes Party Committee Secretary.
* Shanghai Women's Federation founded.
1951 - Shanghai Shenhua Football Club formed.
1952 - Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Banking School, and Shanghai Chinese Orchestra founded.
1953 - Population: 6,204,417.
1954
* Ke Qingshi becomes Party Committee Secretary.
* Shanghai Zoo and Shanghai Teachers Training College established.
* Jing'an Park developed.
1955
* Shanghai Exhibition Centre completed
* Hongkou Stadium opens.
* Shanghai Internal Combustion Engine Components Company in business.
1956 - Shanghai Natural History Museum established.
1958
* Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences founded.
* Ke Qingshi becomes mayor.
* Baoshan, Fengxian, Jiadang, Jinshan, Qingpu, Songjiang districts and Chongming County become part of city.
1959 - Drunken Bai Garden opens.

1960s

1960 - Shanghai Institute of Foreign Languages established.
1961 - Yu Garden opens.
1964 - Population: 10,816,500.
1965
* Chen Pixian becomes CPC Party chief.
* Cao Diqiu becomes mayor.
* Cucumber Lane renovated.
1966 - Cultural Revolution begins.
1967
* Shanghai People's Commune active.
* Zhang Chunqiao becomes mayor.

1970s

1970
* One Strike-Three Anti Campaign.
* Population: 10,820,000.
1971 - Zhang Chunqiao becomes Party Committee Secretary.
1972 - Richard Nixon visits city.
1974 - Shanghai Botanical Garden established.
1976 - Su Zhenhua becomes Party Committee Secretary.
1978 - Shanghai Translation Publishing House founded.
1979
* Peng Chong becomes Party Committee Secretary.
* Sister city relationship established with San Francisco, USA.

1980s

1980
* Shanghai Bar Association founded.
* Chen Guodong becomes Party Committee Secretary.
1981 - Wang Daohan becomes mayor.
1982 - Population: 6,292,960 city; 11,859,700.
1983 - Shanghai History & Cultural Relics Showroom opens.
1984 - Shanghai University of Political Science and Law founded.
1985
* Rui Xingwen becomes Party Committee Secretary.
* Jiang Zemin becomes mayor.
* Shanghai Daoist Association established.
* Wenhui Book Review begins publication.
1987 - Jiang Zemin becomes Party Committee Secretary.
1988
* Zhu Rongji becomes mayor.
* Jin Jiang Tower built.
1989
* Protests.
* Zhu Rongji becomes Party Committee Secretary.

1990s

1990 - Population: 13,341,900.
1991
* Nanpu Bridge and Yangpu Bridge open.
* Wu Bangguo becomes Party Committee Secretary.
* Huang Ju becomes mayor.
* The Chinese Republic on Taiwan unofficially abandoned the claims to Shanghai after amending the constitution.
1992 - Shanghai Star newspaper begins publication.
1993
* Pudong Special Economic Zone established.
* Shanghai Metro begins operation.
* Shanghai International Film Festival begins.
1994
*Huang Ju becomes Party Committee Secretary.
* Oriental Pearl Tower constructed in Lujiazui.
*Australian Chamber of Commerce Shanghai established.
1995
* Xu Kuangdi becomes mayor.
* Dajing Ge Pavilion museum opens.
1996
* Shanghai Library building opens.
* Shanghai Biennale art exhibit begins.
* Yan'an Elevated Road and King Tower built.
* Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai established.
1997 - Xupu Bridge opens.
1998
* Shanghai Grand Theatre opens.
* Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai Sen Mao International Building, Shanghai Futures Building, and Lippo Plaza built.
1999
* Shanghai Pudong International Airport begins operating.
* Shanghai Century Publishing Group established.
* Shanghai Daily newspaper begins publication.
* Shanghai public transport card launched.
2000
* International Ocean Shipping Building, World Finance Tower, and Bank of China Tower constructed.
* Fireworks Festival begins.
* Population: 16,407,700.

21st century

2000s

2001
* Chen Liangyu becomes mayor.
* Plaza 66 and Pudong International Information Port built.
* Shanghai Film Group Corporation in business.
* Benelux Business Association established.
2002
* Chen Liangyu becomes Party Committee Secretary.
* Shanghai Ocean Aquarium and Super Brand Mall open.
* Shanghai Fashion Week begins.
* Shanghai Golden Eagles baseball team formed.
2003
* Han Zheng becomes mayor.
* Lupu Bridge opens.
* Tomorrow Square, Shanghai Dong Hai Plaza, Aurora Plaza, and Raffles Square built.
* Nanhui New City construction begins.
2004
* Shanghai Maglev Train begins operating.
* Shanghai Railway Museum and Shanghai International Circuit open.
* Chinese Grand Prix begins.
2005
* Shanghai Institute of Visual Art and Shanghai City Symphonic Orchestra established.
* Donghai Bridge, Shimao International Plaza, Grand Gateway Shanghai, Longemont Shanghai, Citigroup Tower, and Bank of Shanghai Headquarters built.
* Shanghai Oriental Art Center and Qi Zhong Stadium inaugurated.
2006
* Han Zheng becomes Party Committee Secretary.
* Shanghai pension scandal.
* Island6 Art Center opens.
* Chenghuang Miao restored.
* PLA Unit 61398 active.
2007
* Xi Jinping becomes Party Committee Secretary, succeeded by Yu Zhengsheng.
* Oasis Skyway Garden Hotel built.
2008 - Shanghai World Financial Center, One Lujiazui, and Zhongrong Jasper Tower built.
2009
* Shanghai Pride begins.
* Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel and Bridge and Happy Valley (amusement park) open.
* Shanghai Masters tennis tournament held.

2010s

2010
* Expo 2010 Shanghai China held.
* Shanghai Arena opens.
* Minpu Bridge and Shanghai Wheelock Square built.
* 15 November: Fire on Jiaozhou Road, Jing'an District.
* Population: 23,019,148.
2011
* Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway begins operating.
* Huamin King Tower built.
2012
* November: Han Zheng becomes Party Committee Secretary.
* December: Yang Xiong becomes mayor.
* Power Station of Art opens.
* Turkish Chamber of Commerce established.
2014
* 31 December: 2014 Shanghai stampede
2016
*June 16: Shanghai Disneyland Park opened.
2017
*26 April : Shanghai Tower officially opened its sightseeing deck to the public.
* 10 June: Protest against changes to housing regulations by the municipal authorities on Nanjing Road

Published in the 19th century

Published in the 20th century

David Fraser, “Inventing Oasis: Luxury Housing Advertisements and Reconfiguring Domestic Space in Shanghai,” chapter 2 in The Consumer Revolution in Urban China 25-53.

Published in the 21st century

; 2000s

Piper Gaubatz, “Globalization and the Development of New Central Business Districts in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou,” chapter 6 in Restructuring the Chinese City: Changing Society, Economy and Space 98-121.

; 2010s
*