Emily Stehr

Interesting History of Shanghai Emily Stehr

Interesting History of Shanghai Word Origin and History of Shanghai: "A port in east China, capital of Shanghai municipality (traditionally in southeast Jiangsu) near the estuary of the Yangtze; the largest city in China and one of the largest ports in the world; a major cultural and industrial centre, with many universities. Population: 12,665,000 (2005 estimate). "Chinese seaport, literally 'by the sea', from Shang 'on, above' + hai 'sea'. In the 19th century, a long-legged breed of hens, supposed to have come from there; hence US slang senses relating to long, tall persons or things." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/shanghai William LG Smith; Observations on China and the Chinese; Carleton; 1863 William LG Smith writes: "The native city is called Shanghai from its locality. The name is a compound of two Chinese characters translated shang and hai, and correspond in meaning with the English words above and water. The city is situate in latitude 31 degrees 12 minutes north, and longitude 121 degrees 28 minutes east from Greenwich, on the Wangpoo river, near its junction with the Soochoo creek, and twelve miles above the intersection of the Woosung river with the Yangtze, and fifty miles from the sea. The Wangpoo river and the Soochoo creek when united, form the Woosung. Vessels drawing twenty-two feet of water can cross the bar at the mouth of the Woosung, at spring tide, and come up to the harbor. The tides, however, are so strong, and the channel so tortuous at some points, that it is necessary to take a pilot."