Shanghai.

Title

Shanghai.

Description

Woodcut view depicts a partly view of Shanhai and decorative offshore ships.

ca. 1880

Artist

Anonymus

Historical Description

Shanghai is one of the four municipalities under the direct administration of the central government of the People's Republic of China, the largest city in China. As a major administrative, shipping and trading city. International attention to Shanghai grew in the 19th century due to European recognition of its economic and trade potential at the Yangtze. During the First Opium War (1839–1842), British forces occupied the city. The city was one of five treaty ports forced open to foreign trade following the British victory over China in the First Opium War. The war ended with the 1842 Treaty of Nanking, which allowed the British to dictate opening the treaty ports, Shanghai included, for international trade.