SHANGHAI

Today I want to introduce my hometown - - Shanghai to everybody.
Shanghai began as a fishing village in the 11th century. It wasn’t until the 1800s that it became China’s largest port city. Foreigners swiftly began to inhabit Shanghai after the Opium Wars and were allowed to live in certain territorial zones exempt from Chinese laws. As a result, Shanghai began to become greatly influenced by Western culture, but came to a standstill when the Communist Party took control in 1949.
The Party quickly closed China off from all foreign countries, causing many foreign enterprises to be taken over by the new Chinese government. Since 1979 China’s new leader allowed for the country’s advancement toward becoming an international force in both business and finance. Since then Shanghai, along with the entire country of China has been steadily placing themselves amongst many global leading countries.
Today, every aspect of Shanghai’s history is evident throughout the city. Historical sights gleam in the shadows of modern skyscrapers and residents bear both the old China as well as the new. The city pulsates with the anxiety to become modern and the desire to hold on to its immense culture. It is truly a remarkable city righteously nicknamed, "The Pearl of The Orient."