While many citizens, especially youngsters, believe that Shanghai was a mere small fishing village 100 years ago, the Shanghai Local Chronicles Office have a definitive version of the city’s history. In order to popularize the true history of Shanghai, the Office has started to compile the “6,000-year History of Shanghai” book series, which delves into the development of Shanghai, including very recent developments such as the history of Reform and Opening up in Shanghai. This book series is expected to be published over five years.

A handful of unhusked rice 6,000 years ago shows origins

Shanghai’s land was formed in the Ediacaran Period (about 500 million years ago) and, together with Zhejiang and Fujian, was called Jiangnan Ancient Island Arc. Based on the current recovered relics and historical archives, Shanghai’s civilization can be traced back to 6,000 years ago, when a group of people belonging to the Majiabang culture arrived in the Songze area (located in Qingpu district today). They made a living and raised their offspring there by digging wells, growing rice, hunting and fishing. A piece of skull bone, a handful of carbonized unhusked rice and several wells with clean water tell the story of how those ancestors blazed the trail on this land.

The Chinese characters for “Shanghai” have existed for nearly 1,000 years in historical records and Shanghai has been a city for more than 700 years.

Shanghai Ancient Songzhe Relics Museum

Some might think the claim that Shanghai has a civilization of 6,000 years is exaggerated as China is believed to have about 5,000 years of history. However, the civilization of a city predates recorded history. As such, archaeologically, Shanghai’s civilization dates back to the Neolithic period.

As of today, more than 30 ancient cultural relics sites have been uncovered, which are proof of Shanghai’s ancestors’ labors and lifestyle. Those cultural relics sites date from the Majiabang, Songze, Liangzhu, Qianshanyang, Guangfulin, and Maqiao Cultures all the way up to the Ming Dynasty.

According to the Shanghai Local Chronicles Office, the “6000-year History of Shanghai” book series will be mainly intended for middle school students and divided into three sections, which are Ancient Civilization, A City of 100 Thousand Years, and Dream of One Hundred Years. The new book series will serve to popularize the history of Shanghai and increase youngsters’ pride in the development of the city.