History of Shanghai in Timeline

Shanghai is a municipality and China's most populous urban area, situated at the Yangtze River's southern estuary. Its city proper holds the world's second-largest population at around 24.87 million (2023), while its urban area leads China with 29.87 million residents. In 2022, the Greater Shanghai area generated a gross metropolitan product of approximately 13 trillion RMB. A global hub, Shanghai excels in finance, business, economics, research, science, technology, manufacturing, transportation, tourism, and culture. The Port of Shanghai is the world's busiest container port.

1907: Performance of "Uncle Tom's Cabin"

In 1907, "Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly" was performed at the Lyceum Theatre.

1908: First Tram Line Opened

In 1908, the first tram line in Shanghai was opened.

1909: Shanghai-Nanjing and Shanghai-Hangzhou Railways in Service

By 1909, the Shanghai–Nanjing railway and Shanghai–Hangzhou railway were in service.

1912: Dismantling of the Old City Walls

In 1912, the Old City walls of Shanghai were dismantled to allow for the city's expansion.

1913: First Chinese Short Film

In 1913, China's first short film, "The Difficult Couple", was produced in Shanghai.

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1918: László Hudec Moves to Shanghai

In 1918, László Hudec, a Hungarian-Slovak architect, moved to Shanghai and lived there until 1947.

1920: Coining of 'Haipai' Term

The term 'Haipai' was coined by Beijing writers in 1920 to criticize Shanghai scholars for admiring capitalism and Western culture.

July 1921: Founding of the Chinese Communist Party

In July 1921, the Chinese Communist Party was founded in the Shanghai French Concession.

1923: First Fictional Feature Film

In 1923, China's first fictional feature film, "An Orphan Rescues His Grandfather", was produced in Shanghai.

1924: First Mention of the Nickname Módū

In 1924, the nickname 魔都 (Módū/mó-tu, "monster/fiend/magical city") for Shanghai was first mentioned in Mato by Japanese novelist Shōfu Muramatsu.

May 1925: Outbreak of the May Thirtieth Movement

On May 30, 1925, the May Thirtieth Movement broke out in Shanghai when a worker in a Japanese-owned cotton mill was shot and killed by a Japanese foreman, leading to general strikes and nationwide protests.

1925: Tram Network Expansion

By 1925, Shanghai's tram network had grown to 328 tramcars and 14 routes, operated by Chinese, French, and British companies.

1925: Construction of the All Saints Church in 1925

The Protestant All Saints Church in Huangpu was built in 1925 and features a Neo-Romanesque tower.

July 1927: Shanghai Elevated to Municipality Status

On July 7, 1927, Shanghai was elevated to municipality status after being separated from Jiangsu. The new Chinese municipality included districts such as Baoshan, Yangpu, Zhabei, Nanshi, and Pudong.

1927: Shanghai Becomes a Municipality

In 1927, Shanghai officially became a municipality, marking a change in its administrative status.

January 1932: Japanese Military Invasion of Shanghai

On January 28, 1932, Japanese military forces invaded Shanghai, leading to the destruction of over 10,000 shops and hundreds of factories and public buildings in Zhabei district.

1932: Shanghai Becomes the World's Fifth-Largest City

By 1932, Shanghai had become the world's fifth-largest city and home to 70,000 foreigners.

1933: Erection of the Apostolic Vicariate of Shanghai in 1933

The Apostolic Vicariate of Shanghai was erected in 1933.

1937: Battle of Shanghai and Occupation

In 1937, the Battle of Shanghai resulted in the occupation of the Chinese-administered parts of Shanghai outside of the International Settlement and the French Concession.

1939: Foundation of the Shanghai Jewish Youth Association in 1939

In 1939, Horace Kadoorie founded the Shanghai Jewish Youth Association to support Jewish refugees through English education.

November 1941: Japanese Government Transfers Jewish Refugees to Shanghai

By November 1941, the Japanese government had transferred many Jewish refugees to Shanghai.

December 1941: Japanese Occupation of Foreign Concessions

On December 8, 1941, the foreign concessions in Shanghai were occupied by the Japanese.

1945: End of Japanese Occupation

In 1945, Japan surrendered, ending the Japanese occupation of Shanghai.

1946: Elevation to the Diocese of Shanghai in 1946

In 1946, the Apostolic Vicariate of Shanghai was further elevated to the Diocese of Shanghai.

1947: László Hudec Leaves Shanghai

In 1947, László Hudec, a Hungarian-Slovak architect, left Shanghai after living there since 1918.

1948: Shanghai Cricket Team International Matches

The Shanghai cricket team played various international matches between 1866 and 1948 as China's de facto China national cricket team.

May 1949: People's Liberation Army Takes Control of Shanghai

On May 27, 1949, the People's Liberation Army took control of Shanghai through the Shanghai Campaign.

1949: Impact of Putonghua after 1949

After 1949, Putonghua (Standard Mandarin) also had an impact on Shanghainese because it was promoted by the government.

1949: Establishment of the People's Republic of China

After the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, Soviet neoclassical architecture became more common in Shanghai.

1949: Restoration of Shanghai's Economy

After the war, in 1949, Shanghai's economy was restored under the new People's Republic of China.

1949: Nationalization of Tram Companies

In 1949, all tram companies in Shanghai were nationalized.

1949: Dormancy of Shanghai Cricket Club

In 1949, the Shanghai Cricket Club went dormant after the founding of the PRC.

1949: Founding of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government

In 1949, the Shanghai Municipal People's Government was founded, governing a land area of 663.5 square kilometres.

1951: Start of Extremes Since Measurement

Since 1951, temperature extremes in Shanghai have ranged from −10.1 °C (13.8 °F) to 40.9 °C (105.6 °F).

1952: Increased Agricultural and Industrial Output

From 1949 to 1952, Shanghai experienced a significant increase in agricultural and industrial output, growing by 51.5% and 94.2%, respectively.

1958: Ten Counties Reassigned to Shanghai

In 1958, ten counties were reassigned to Shanghai from Jiangsu.

1966: Start of the Cultural Revolution

In 1966, the Cultural Revolution began, severely damaging Shanghai's society.

1975: Last Tram Line Demolished

In 1975, the last tram line in Shanghai was demolished.

1976: End of the Cultural Revolution

In 1976, the Cultural Revolution came to an end, marking the end of a period of severe damage to Shanghai's society.

January 1977: Record Low Temperature

In January 31, 1977, Shanghai recorded a low temperature of −10.1 °C (13.8 °F).

1978: Establishment of Shanghai Botanical Garden

The Shanghai Botanical Garden was established in 1978, located 12 km southwest of the city center.

1986: First Revitalization of the Bund

In 1986, the Bund underwent its first revitalization, which included a new promenade designed by Dutch architect Paulus Snoeren.

1986: Founding of Shanghai Television Festival

In 1986, the Shanghai Television Festival, the earliest international TV festival in China, was founded.

1988: Start of District Reorganizations

Between 1988 and 2015, several counties in the suburbs of Shanghai were reorganized into districts.

June 1989: Jiang Zemin Becomes General Secretary

In June 1989, Jiang Zemin became the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party after serving as a political power in Shanghai.

1990: Economic Reforms Initiated in Shanghai

In 1990, Deng Xiaoping permitted Shanghai to initiate economic reforms, which reintroduced foreign capital and developed the Pudong district, leading to the birth of Lujiazui.

1992: Shanghai's GDP growth starting in 1992

Starting in 1992, Shanghai recorded double-digit GDP growth.

1993: Opening of the Shanghai Metro

In 1993, the Shanghai Metro first opened and became the largest metro network in the world by route length.

1993: Founding of Shanghai International Film Festival

The Shanghai International Film Festival was founded in 1993.

1994: Re-establishment of Shanghai Cricket Club

In 1994, the Shanghai Cricket Club was re-established by expatriates living in the city.

1994: Establishment of Shanghai University-University of Technology Sydney Business School since 1994

The Shanghai University–University of Technology Sydney Business School has been in place since 1994.

1996: Registered Christian Protestant churches since 1996

Since 1996, registered Christian Protestant churches have been present in Shanghai.

2001: Start of Seasonal Division Standard

According to China's seasonal division standard, from 2001 to 2025, Shanghai typically enters spring on March 9.

2001: Shanghai Fashion Week

Since 2001, Shanghai has held Shanghai Fashion Week each April and October.

2004: Shanghai Maglev Train Inauguration

In 2004, the Shanghai maglev train, the world's first commercial high-speed maglev, began operations with a maximum speed of 430 km/h.

2004: First Chinese Grand Prix

Since 2004, Shanghai has hosted the Chinese Grand Prix, a round of the Formula One World Championship.

2005: Yangshan Port Construction

Yangshan Port was built in 2005 because the river was unsuitable for docking large container ships, and is connected to the mainland by the Donghai Bridge.

2006: Establishment of the University of Michigan–Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute since 2006

The University of Michigan–Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute has been in place since 2006.

2008: End of double-digit GDP growth in 2008

In 2008, Shanghai's double-digit GDP growth ended due to the financial crisis.

2009: Shanghai Students Top PISA

In 2009, 15-year-old students from Shanghai achieved the top ranking in every subject, including math, reading, and science, in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).

2009: Shanghai Futures Exchange trading volume in 2009

In 2009, the trading volume of six key commodities on the Shanghai Futures Exchange all ranked first globally.

February 2010: UNESCO Designation as "City of Design"

In February 2010, Shanghai was recognized by UNESCO as a "City of Design".

2010: Muslim population in Shanghai in 2010

According to the 2010 census of China, there were an estimated 85,000 Muslims in Shanghai.

2010: Second Revitalization of the Bund

Before the 2010 Expo, the Bund underwent its second revitalization, including restoration of the Waibaidu Bridge and reconfiguration of traffic flow.

2010: World's Busiest Container Port

In 2010, the Port of Shanghai became the world's busiest container port.

2010: Reintroduction of Trams with Zhangjiang Tram

Shanghai reintroduced trams in 2010 with the rubber-tyred Zhangjiang Tram.

2011: Opening of Shanghai Chen Shan Botanical Garden

In 2011, the largest botanical garden in Shanghai—Shanghai Chen Shan Botanical Garden—opened in Songjiang District.

2012: Religious affiliation in Shanghai in 2012

According to a 2012 survey, 13.1% of Shanghai's population belongs to organized religions.

2012: Shanghai Students Rank First in PISA

In 2012, 15-year-old students from Shanghai again ranked first in every subject (math, reading, and science) in the Program for International Student Assessment.

2012: Rehabilitation of Suzhou Creek finished

In 2012, the 16-year rehabilitation of Suzhou Creek was completed, which involved clearing the creek of barges and factories and removing 1.3 million cubic meters of sludge.

2012: Establishment of New York University Shanghai since 2012

New York University Shanghai—the first China–U.S. joint venture university—has been in place since 2012.

September 2013: Launch of the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone in September 2013

In September 2013, Shanghai launched the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone, the first free-trade zone in mainland China.

December 2013: High Pollution Levels During Smog

On December 6, 2013, during the Eastern China smog, levels of PM2.5 particulate matter in Shanghai rose above 600 micrograms per cubic meter, and in the surrounding area, above 700 micrograms per cubic meter.

2013: Foundation of ShanghaiTech University in 2013

In 2013, the Shanghai Municipality and the Chinese Academy of Sciences founded the ShanghaiTech University.

2013: Growth in Cultural Curation

Since 2013, cultural curation in Shanghai has grown, with several new museums being opened in the city.

2014: Buddhism in Shanghai in 2014

As of 2014, Buddhism in Shanghai had 114 temples, 1,182 clergical staff, and 453,300 registered followers.

2015: Chongming Becomes a District

In 2015, Chongming was the last county to be retitled as a district in Shanghai.

2015: Suspension of Pudong Railway Passenger Service

In 2015, passenger service was suspended on the Pudong railway, one of Shanghai's four commuter railways.

2015: Completion of the Shanghai Tower

In 2015, the Shanghai Tower was completed, becoming the tallest building in China and the third tallest in the world.

2016: Opening of Shanghai Disney Resort

The Shanghai Disney Resort opened in 2016.

July 2017: High Temperature Recorded

In July 21, 2017, Shanghai recorded a high temperature of 40.9 °C (105.6 °F).

2017: Number of financial institutions in Shanghai in 2017

By the end of 2017, Shanghai had 1,491 financial institutions, of which 251 were foreign-invested.

2017: Tourism in Shanghai in 2017

In 2017, Shanghai was the highest earning tourist city in the world. Domestic tourists increased by 7.5% to 318 million, while overseas tourists increased by 2.2% to 8.73 million.

2017: Population controls in Shanghai in 2017

In 2017, the Chinese government implemented population controls for Shanghai, resulting in a population decline of 10,000 people by the end of the year.

December 2018: Bicycle-Sharing Systems Popularity

As of December 2018, bicycle-sharing systems in Shanghai had an average of 1.15 million daily riders.

2018: Reduction in Emissions

From 2013 to 2018, more than 3,000 treatment facilities for industrial waste gases were installed, and the city's annual smoke, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide emissions decreased by 65%, 54%, and 95%, respectively.

2018: Airport Passenger and Cargo Volume

In 2018, Shanghai Pudong International Airport served 74.0 million passengers and handled 3.8 million tons of cargo. In the same year, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport served 43.6 million passengers.

2018: International meetings hosted in Shanghai in 2018

In 2018, Shanghai hosted 82 international meetings, a 34% increase from 61 in 2017.

2018: Private Car Ownership

In 2018, private car ownership in Shanghai was rapidly increasing

2018: Port of Shanghai Transportation

In 2018, the Port of Shanghai had an annual TEU transportation of 42 million.

2018: Songjiang Tram Operations Begin

In 2018, the steel-wheeled Songjiang Tram started operating in Songjiang District.

2018: Shanghai's Development Plans

Shanghai's 2018 development plans aimed to make the city "an excellent global city".

March 2019: Shanghai Metro Ridership Record

On March 8, 2019, Shanghai Metro set a new daily ridership record with 13.3 million passengers.

July 2019: New garbage-classification system adopted

In July 2019, Shanghai implemented a new garbage-classification system. This system sorts waste into categories such as residual, kitchen, recyclable, and hazardous. The waste is then collected by separate vehicles and sent to appropriate facilities.

October 2019: Size of Shanghai Free-Trade Zone in October 2019

As of October 2019, the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone is the second largest in mainland China, covering 240.22 sq km.

October 2019: Railway Integration

As of October 2019, the Shanghai–Nanjing railway and Shanghai–Hangzhou railway had been integrated into the Beijing–Shanghai railway and Shanghai–Kunming railway, respectively.

2019: Huangpu River Crossings

As of 2019, Shanghai featured 12 bridges and 14 tunnels crossing the Huangpu River.

2019: Market capitalization of the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2019

As of 2019, the Shanghai Stock Exchange had a market capitalization of US$4.02 trillion.

2019: Extensive Bus Network

By 2019, Shanghai's bus network included 1,575 lines covering a total length of 8,997 km, featuring the world's oldest continuously operating trolleybus system.

2019: Increase in Private Car Ownership

In 2019, there were 3.40 million private cars in Shanghai, representing a 12.5% increase from 2018. The average price for license plates auctioned each month was about CN¥89,600 (US$12,739).

2019: Port of Shanghai Cruise Traffic

The Port of Shanghai handled 259 cruises and 1.89 million passengers in 2019.

March 2020: Newspapers publishing

As of March 2020, newspapers were publishing in Shanghai.

September 2020: Consulates general and consulates hosted

As of September 2020, Shanghai hosted 71 consulates general and 5 consulates, excluding Hong Kong and Macao trade offices.

2020: Shanghai's Economy Reaches $1 Trillion (PPP)

As of 2020, the economy of Shanghai was estimated to be $1 trillion (PPP).

2021: Shanghai as the most expensive city in the world for a luxurious lifestyle in 2021

According to a report, Shanghai was the most expensive city in the world for living a luxurious lifestyle in 2021.

2021: Shanghai's Fintech Ranking in 2021

As of 2021, Shanghai was ranked as the 2nd Fintech powerhouse in the world after New York City.

2021: Population aging in 2021

In 2021, 17.4% (4.3 million) of the city's registered population was aged 65 or above in Shanghai.

January 2022: Additional Commuter Lines Under Construction

As of January 2022, four additional commuter railway lines—Chongming line, Jiamin line, Airport link line and Lianggang Express line—were under construction.

July 2022: High Temperature Recorded

In July 13, 2022, Shanghai recorded a high temperature of 40.9 °C (105.6 °F).

2022: Urban vs rural population in 2022

As of 2022, 89.3% of Shanghai's population lived in urban areas, and 10.7% in rural areas.

2022: Greater Shanghai's Gross Metropolitan Product

As of 2022, the Greater Shanghai metropolitan area was estimated to produce a gross metropolitan product (nominal) of nearly 13 trillion RMB ($1.9 trillion).

2022: Gross Metropolitan Product of Greater Shanghai

As of 2022, the Greater Shanghai metropolitan area was estimated to produce a gross metropolitan product (nominal) of nearly 13 trillion RMB ($1.9 trillion).

2022: Extensive Public Park System

By 2022, Shanghai had 670 parks, of which 281 had free admission, and the per capita park area was 9 m.

2022: COVID-19 Outbreak and Lockdown

In 2022, Shanghai experienced a large outbreak of COVID-19 cases, resulting in a city-wide lockdown on April 5, which caused widespread food shortages. The restrictions were lifted on June 1.

2022: Shanghai's billionaire ranking in 2022

In 2022, Shanghai was ranked fifth-highest in the number of billionaires by Forbes.

2022: Average annual disposable income of Shanghai's residents in 2022

In 2022, the average annual disposable income of Shanghai's residents was CN¥79,610 per capita.

2022: Comparison of Shanghai's tourist growth in 2022 vs 2023

In 2023, Shanghai had 3.64 million tourists, a 4.8-fold growth compared to 2022.

2023: Cost of living in Shanghai in 2023

According to a 2023 study, Shanghai was the most expensive city in mainland China to live in.

2023: Tourism statistics for Shanghai in 2023

As of 2023, Shanghai had 3.64 million tourists, generating CN¥177.12 billion in value. It had 57 five-star hotels, 52 four star hotels, 1,942 travel agencies, 144 rated tourist attractions, and 34 red tourist attractions.

2023: Shanghai's education ranking in 2023

As of 2023, Shanghai had 68 universities and colleges, ranking first in East China region.

2023: Education Statistics in Shanghai

In 2023, Shanghai had 49 postgraduate institutions, 900 secondary schools, 70 vocational schools, 664 primary schools, and 31 special education schools. The city provided five years of free primary education and four years of free junior secondary education, achieving a gross enrollment ratio exceeding 99.9%.

2023: Sports Events

In 2023, Shanghai hosted 118 sports events, with 190,000 participants and 1.29 million spectators, driving a consumption of CN¥3.713 billion (US$510.83 million).

2023: Shanghai's imports and exports in 2023

In 2023, Shanghai's imports and exports reached CN¥7.73 trillion, accounting for 18.5% of the national total.

2023: Air Quality Index

In 2023, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Shanghai reached a rate of 87.7%.

2023: SAIC Motor's ranking on the Fortune Global 500 list in 2023

In 2023, the Shanghai-based SAIC Motor ranked 84 on the Fortune Global 500 list.

2023: Shanghai's Population

In 2023, the city proper of Shanghai was the second most populous in the world with around 24.87 million inhabitants.

August 2024: Shanghai ranks 4th in the world in August 2024 for Fortune Global 500 companies

As of August 2024, Shanghai ranked 4th in the world and 2nd in Greater China for the largest number of Fortune Global 500 companies.

August 2024: Record High Daily Minimum Temperature

On August 2, 2024, Shanghai recorded its highest ever daily minimum temperature at 32.1 °C (89.8 °F) at Xujiahui.

2024: Shanghai University of Sport Ranking in 2024

As of 2024, Shanghai University of Sport ranks #1 in Asia and #29 globally according to the "Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments".

2024: Taxi Operations in Shanghai

As of 2024, Shanghai had 30,900 taxis in operation, carrying 134 million passengers that year.

2024: Fortune Global 500 Companies

As of 2024, Shanghai is home to 13 companies of the Fortune Global 500—the fourth-highest number of any city.

2024: Shanghai's Research Ranking in 2024

As of 2024, Shanghai was ranked second globally by scientific research outputs, as tracked by the Nature Index.

2024: Shanghai's GDP and GDP per capita in 2024

As of 2024, Shanghai's GDP was CN¥5.39 trillion, comprising 4% of China's GDP, with a GDP per capita of CN¥216,791.

2025: End of Seasonal Division Standard Range

According to China's seasonal division standard, from 2001 to 2025, Shanghai typically enters winter on December 4.

2025: University Ranking in Shanghai in 2025

According to the U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking for 2025–26, Shanghai had the third highest concentration of universities among all major cities in the world included in the ranking, totaling 22.

2025: Ranking of Shanghai Universities in 2025

As of 2025, Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University were ranked in the global top 40 research comprehensive universities.

2025: Shanghai Metro Expansion

As of 2025, Shanghai's metro system included 19 lines (excluding the Shanghai maglev train and Jinshan railway), 508 stations, and 808 km of lines, making it the longest metro network globally.