A bridge too close 2/2

Beginning of article

Defense of the International Settlement 

The growing influence of Japan on Shanghai affairs in the 20's would confer the Bridge a new role. The Japanese side of the city initially started North of the SMC Slauterhouse with extensions along the North Sichuan Road. With a population outnumbering the British by three times and the coming to power of military, there was much to fear for the British hegemony on Shanghai. In 1932, the “28^th January Incident” opposed the landing Japanese marine corps to the defying Chinese population in Hongkou. This unnamed war lasted one month and happened just on the North side of the Bridge, on Broadway Road. In 1937, the second Sino-Japanese war resulted in a fierce battle, right North of the Bridge too with heavy bombing of Hongkou and Yanpuqu. The Westerners then decided to defend the Foreign Settlements South of the Suzhou Creek (refugees on left photo). This status quo lasted after the victory of Japan so that the bridge became a checkpoint controlled by both Shanghai Volunteer Corps and Japanese army (photo bellow). You had to bow in front of the Japanese guards or face harsh beating! 

In 1941, as war was declared on US by the Empire of Japan, Japanese tanks crossed the river on the Garden Bridge to occupy the International Settlement. The British Army had long left the city, judging it undefendable against the overwrelming Japanese force. Little resistance was offered by the British ship “Petrel” which was sunk in less than one hour by Japanese canons. In 1945, the same Japanese soldiers had to peacefully wait for Chiang's troops to come as Japan had already surrended to US. This is only four years later, when Mao’s troops arrived in Shanghai that the bridge was the scene of a last short battle to get rid of the Republican snippers in Broadway Mansion!

A landmark in new Shanghai

Ever since, the bridge had been one of Shanghainese favourite places to shoot photos, with view on Broadway Mansion or the Russian Consulate in the first place and view on Pudong in more recent times. During the Renaissance period, the bridge zone was almost forgotten as a high speed elevated road was erected on top of it (left photo). The down part was occupied by various government properties in a messy urban landscape. Only for the Shanghai Expo, the bridge was valorized with taking down the elevated road. The whole area was redesigned by Xintiandi's guru Ben Wood adding green spaces to it (photo bellow).

Today’s Bridge is on almost every picture from Shanghai's visitors as the new photographic battle is declared between the best overlooking  terraces around (Hyatt, Katleeen’s, Peninsula, etc…). It is a highlight of the night light show on the Suzhou River (photo beginning of article) . Not to mention that the Suzhou Creek has now been cleaned and cleared from former stationning boats too. So no need to have chou doufu there anymore! 

Internet website: www.chinaworldexplorers.com
Email: didier.pujol@chinaworldexplorers.com
Tel: +86 15021769130

Bilbliography and photos:

• Peter Hibbard, "The Bund", Ed. Odyssey Books and Guides 2008
• Tess Johnston and Deke Ehr, "A last look: Western architecture in old Shanghai", Old China Hand Press 1993
• Christian Henriot, "Virtual Shanghai" database

Comments

[Anne]

Oui, un endroit surement immanquable (mais que je crois avoir raté...)