Shanghai History
		Shanghai abbreviated to "Hu" is situated at the delta of the Yangtze River, guarding the gateway of the Yangtze River in the north, facing the sea in the east and bordering Hangzhou Bay in the south. It is China's biggest city and also the biggest seaport as well as the major center of economy, sciences and technology and culture. The Shanghai region was one of the places developed rather early by human beings. It was once a coastal fishing village in ancient time. It was the domain of the Kingdom of Wu of the Spring and Autumn Period. The King of Wu had at once built mansions here, named "Hua Ting" (magnificent Pavilion). During the Warring States Period, Shanghai was also known as "Shen" when Chun Shen Sovereign of Chu Kingdom was invested with enfeoffment. It was established a township in the Song Dynasty, started to call Shanghai. During the Three Kingdoms Period, the Qinglong township of Shanghai Qingpu was one of the important base areas of waterborne forces of Wu Kingdom. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there were fishing grounds in the lower reaches of Wusong River and along the coast. The tools the fishermen used to catch fish were called "Hu". The area where the fishing grounds were located called "Hu Du" and the Chinese character " "(Hu) was later changed into " " (Hu) , so it became the abbreviated name for Shanghai. In the 23rd year (1684) of Emperor Kaugxi's reign of the Qing Dynasty, ban on maritime was lifted and Shanghai gradually developed into a hub of communications and trade between north and south and a commercial city of the southeastern coast. In 1842, the Qing government signed the first unequal treaty in Chinese modern history, leasing 830 MU of land to the British as residential quarters, thus starting the setting up of Shanghai concession. From then on, the United States, France and other countries set up their "concessions" in succession, which formed the basis for the imperialists to invade China. The Communist Party of China was born in Shanghai in 1921. Shanghai was made a city in 1927 and it is now one of the four cities under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government.