Timeline of Shanghai

Prior to 19th century

5th-7th century 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 century - Market town develops.

1216 - Jing'an Temple built.

1292 - Town becomes county seat.

1294 - Wen Miao (temple) active.

1554 - City walls constructed.

1732 - Customs office relocated to Shanghai from Songjiang.

1780 - Yu Garden opens.

1789 - Guyi Garden becomes communal property.

19th century

1842

19 June: Shanghai taken by British forces.

Shanghai opens to foreigners per Treaty of Nanking.

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.

Gas lighting introduced.

1866 - Butterfield & Swire in business.

1868 - Musee de Zikawei founded.

1869 - Holy Trinity Church dedicated.

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 (magazine) 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 - 22 June: British nationals conduct jubilee events.

1898

Songhu Railway begins operating.

Bubbling Well cemetery established.

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: Communist Party of China 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.

1949

Rao Shushi becomes Shanghai CPC Party chief.

May: Chen Yi becomes mayor.

May–June: Shanghai Campaign.

Jiefang Daily newspaper begins publication.

Shanghai Film Studio founded.

1950s

1950

Chen Yi becomes CPC Party chief.

Shanghai Women's Federation founded.

1951 - Shanghai Shenhua Football Club formed.

1952 - Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Banking School, and Shanghai Chinese Orchestra founded.

1953 - Population: 6,204,400.

1954

Ke Qingshi becomes CPC Party chief.

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.

1971 - Zhang Chunqiao becomes CPC Party chief.

1972 - Richard Nixon visits city.

1974 - Shanghai Botanical Garden established.

1976 - Su Zhenhua becomes CPC Party chief.

1978 - Shanghai Translation Publishing House founded.

1979

Peng Chong becomes CPC Party chief.

Sister city relationship established with San Francisco, USA.

1980s

1980

Shanghai Bar Association founded.

Chen Guodong becomes CPC Party chief.

1981 - Wang Daohan becomes mayor.

1982 - Population: 11,859,700.

1983 - Shanghai History & Cultural Relics Showroom opens.

1984 - Shanghai University of Political Science and Law founded.

1985

Rui Xingwen becomes CPC Party chief.

Jiang Zemin becomes mayor.

Shanghai Daoist Association established.

Wenhui Book Review begins publication.

1987 - Jiang Zemin becomes CPC Party chief.

1988

Zhu Rongji becomes mayor.

Jin Jiang Tower built.

1989

Protests.

Zhu Rongji becomes CPC Party chief.

1990s

1990 - Population: 13,341,900.

1991

Nanpu Bridge and Yangpu Bridge open.

Wu Bangguo becomes CPC Party chief.

Huang Ju becomes mayor.

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 CPC Party chief.

Oriental Pearl Tower constructed in Lujiazui.

1995

Xu Kuangdi becomes mayor.

Dajing Ge Pavilion museum opens (approximate date).

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.

2000s

2000

International Ocean Shipping Building, World Finance Tower, and Bank of China Tower constructed.

Fireworks Festival begins.

Population: 16,407,700.

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 CPC Party chief.

Hong Kong New World Tower, Maxdo Centre, Jin Jiang Oriental Hotel, Bund Center, and Bocom Financial Towers built.

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 CPC Party chief.

Shanghai pension scandal.

Island6 Art Center opens.

Chenghuang Miao (temple) restored.

PLA Unit 61398 active (approximate date).

2007

Xi Jinping becomes CPC Party chief, 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 (world expo) 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 CPC Party chief.

December: Yang Xiong becomes mayor.

Power Station of Art opens.

Turkish Chamber of Commerce established.

2014

31 December: 2014 Shanghai stampede