“Shanghai-la-juive” by Michèle Kahn had been on my bookshelves for years. I finally took the time to read it this summer, and I wish had done it earlier. Published originally in 1997, the novel tells the story of Walter Neumann, a young Austrian Jew who reached Shanghai in 1938. Arriving without a penny like many … Continue reading Shanghai-la-Juive

In October 1990, I conducted fieldwork in Shanghai to observe and, where possible, visit the city’s factories. My research at the time focused on understanding how these workplaces were being transformed under the sweeping...

During World War II, Shanghai became an unlikely haven for thousands of European Jewish refugees and other foreigners fleeing persecution. The city’s unique status as an open port (requiring no visa for entry into...

Continuing on the topic of Shanghai population – this abstract mentions the data from the recent census. According to these numbers, by 1929 Shanghai had become the sixth largest city in the world, with its 2.7 million residents, of which foreigners made up 1.7%: Source: THE REAL ESTATE MARKET:…

In more than 20 years in Shanghai (and counting), I spent many years in the former French concession but one location in particular remains a clear favorite. This was on Route Kaufmann (today Anting lu / 安亭路), where I spent 10 years. Living at the back a small lane really felt like living in Old … Continue reading Route Kaufmann, Frenchtown