Four Cities in China have the same rank as Provinces - Tianjin, Beijing, Chongqing, and Shanghai. Shanghai has a population of about 24 million people, roughly the same as Australia. The City was one of five treaty ports forced to open to foreign trade after the British victory over China in the first Opium War. European tastes for silk, porcelain, and tea caused one-sided trade imbalances. Chinese Officials weren't keen to even the scales with Opium. Gunboats forced the issue. The City then flourished as a centre of commerce. It has now become a showpiece for the booming Chinese Economy. Shang means upon, and Hai, means sea. Ports have for a long time being where the best and worst of us clash.
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