ABSTRACT
The chapter demonstrates that a distinctive culture of openness and receptiveness has been a key factor that has contributed to the development of Shanghai. Since the late imperial times, the city has had a long tradition of welcoming “guest merchants” and making them prosperous, sometimes at the cost of local interests. The link between being open and being modern in the history of Shanghai is not coincidental but logical and consequential. The city has played a pivotal role in recent Chinese history and currently serves as a showcase of China’s booming economy and fast-paced development. This is precisely because of the long-lasting sociocultural environment of the city, which is well articulated in a proverb that is frequently quoted with reference to Shanghai: “All rivers flow into the sea: acceptance and embrace lead to greatness”.
