Memorabilia of Nanjing Road
Shanghai opened its port on November 17 after the signing of the Treaty of Nanjing. Then Shanghai governor Gong Mujiu announced Shanghai Land Regulations and the British established settlement from the Bund to today’s Henan Road. The British set up the first racecourse at the crossroad of Henan and Nanjing roads. Park Lane, also called Maloo, was constructed to connect the Bund with the first racecourse. The second racecourse was built between today’s Xizang and Zhejiang roads. The third racecourse was built on today’s People’s Square. The Park Lane was extended to the Bubbling Well Temple and thus called the Bubbling Well Road, which is today’s Nanjing Road W. Park Lane was renamed Nanjing Road, and gas street lamps were used for the first time. The first telephones were installed in some shops on Nanjing Road. Shanghai Power Company, China’s first power plant, was founded on Nanjing Road. Foreign companies along the eastern section of Nanjing Road began using electric lights. Tap water started to be used on Nanjing Road. The Palace Hotel, Shanghai’s first building to be installed with elevators, was erected at the intersection of Nanjing Road and the Bund. Nanjing Road was paved with elegant wood bricks. The first trolley car route started from the Bund to today’s Jing’an Temple via Nanjing Road. Dr Sun Yat-sen gave a speech in the Palace Hotel during a banquet to celebrate his victory in the presidential election. Sincere Co was the first of the four famous department stores to open on Nanjing Road. Wing On Co, Sun Sun Co and Sun Co followed soon afterward between 1918 and 1936. Shanghai’s first bus appeared on Nanjing Road and plied between Jing’an Temple and Zhongshan Park. Albert Einstein delivered a speech on the theory of relativity in the town hall of Shanghai Municipal Council on Nanjing Road. Shanghai Municipal Police officers opened fire on Chinese protesters and killed 13 people on Nanjing Road. The May 30 Massacre sparked international censure and nationwide antiforeign demonstrations. The 83.8-meter-high Park Hotel was China’s tallest building for nearly half a century. The government renamed Nanjing Road into Nanjing Road E. and Bubbling Well Road into Nanjing Road W.