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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

The city of Shanghai is China’s most developed city and the center of the nation’s economy, finance, trade, shipping, and technological innovation. China’s desire to make it an international center of finance and culture has boomed the city in the past few decades. The rapidly growing middle class in China and foreign investors looking to tap the Chinese market find many opportunities in Shanghai.

Shanghai was occupied by the Japanese during the second Sino-Japanese War, and its industrial plants were severely damaged. Before the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of the Chinese communists took control of Shanghai in 1949, the city’s economy suffered even greater dislocation as small, inefficient shops arose, rampant inflation unfolded, and no overall plan for industrial reconstruction was implemented.

During the period up to 1960, Shanghai’s development was temporarily slowed due to the country’s focus on internal regional development. Shanghai resumed its position as China’s leading scientific and technological research Centre after 1960, when relations with the U.S. cooled.

Below are some fascinating photos by Michael Rank that will take you back to the 1950s in Shanghai.

#1 Shanghai Orthodox Church, 1970s

Shanghai Orthodox Church, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#2 Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#3 Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#4 Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#5 Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#6 Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#7 TV shop on Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

TV shop on Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#8 Nanjing Road cinema. International Hotel in the background (formerly and once again known as the Park Hotel), Shanghai, 1970s

Nanjing Road cinema. International Hotel in the background (formerly and once again known as the Park Hotel), Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#9 Nanjing Road poster, Shanghai, 1970s

Nanjing Road poster, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#10 Nanjing Road trishaw, Shanghai, 1970s

Nanjing Road trishaw, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#11 Bicycle park, Fuzhou Lu, Shanghai, 1970s

Bicycle park, Fuzhou Lu, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#12 Cinema posters, Shanghai, 1970s

Cinema posters, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#13 Commune carrying benches to meeting, Shanghai, 1970s

Commune carrying benches to meeting, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#14 Commune dairy cows, Shanghai, 1970s

Commune dairy cows, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#15 Commune mother and child, Shanghai, 1970s

Commune mother and child, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#16 Commune pigs, Shanghai, 1970s

Commune pigs, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#17 Commune youths, Shanghai, 1970s

Commune youths, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#18 Fuzhou Road, Shanghai, 1970s

Fuzhou Road, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#19 Fuzhou/Xizang Lu, Shanghai, 1970s

Fuzhou/Xizang Lu, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#20 Hongfangzi, Shanghai, 1970s

Hongfangzi, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#21 Huangpu ship, Shanghai, 1970s

Huangpu ship, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#22 Huangpu ships, Shanghai, 1970s

Huangpu ships, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#23 International Hotel statue, Shanghai, 1970s

International Hotel statue, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#24 Photographer at park, Shanghai, 1970s

Photographer at park, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#25 Photographer at park, Shanghai, 1970s

Photographer at park, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#26 Retired performers, Shanghai, 1970s

Retired performers, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#27 Shanghai anti-Deng, 1970s

Shanghai anti-Deng, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#28 Shanghai at night, 1970s

Shanghai at night, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#29 Shanghai boatmen ships, 1970s

Shanghai boatmen ships, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#30 Shanghai Bund crowd, 1970s

Shanghai Bund crowd, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#31 Shanghai Bund crowd, 1970s

Shanghai Bund crowd, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#32 Shanghai Bund, 1970s

Shanghai Bund, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#33 Shanghai Club, 1970s

Shanghai Club, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#34 Shanghai commune women, 1970s

Shanghai commune women, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#35 Shanghai Exhibition Hall, 1970s

Shanghai Exhibition Hall, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#36 Shanghai former racecourse, 1970s

Shanghai former racecourse, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#37 Shanghai former racecourse, 1970s

Shanghai former racecourse, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#38 Shanghai Huangpu, 1970s

Shanghai Huangpu, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#39 Shanghai International Hotel (formerly and once again known as the Park Hotel), 1970s

Shanghai International Hotel (formerly and once again known as the Park Hotel), 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#40 Shanghai International Hotel (formerly and once again known as the Park Hotel), 1970s

Shanghai International Hotel (formerly and once again known as the Park Hotel), 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#41 Shanghai International Hotel (formerly and once again known as the Park Hotel), 1970s

Shanghai International Hotel (formerly and once again known as the Park Hotel), 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#42 Shanghai park cathedral, 1970s

Shanghai park cathedral, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#43 Shanghai Revolutionary Committee, 1970s

Shanghai Revolutionary Committee, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#44 Shanghai street from above, 1970s

Shanghai street from above, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#45 Sitting on Bund, Shanghai, 1970s

Sitting on Bund, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#46 Suzhou Creek, Shanghai, 1970s

Suzhou Creek, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#47 Tudor house, Shanghai, 1970s

Tudor house, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#48 Wujiaochang, Shanghai, 1970s

Wujiaochang, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#49 Wujiaochang, Shanghai, 1970s

Wujiaochang, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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#50 Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 1970s

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What Shanghai looked like in the 1970s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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