North Sichuan Road (Shanghai)

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North Sichuan Road (Chinese: 四川北路; pinyin: Sì Chuān Běi Lù) is a significant street in Shanghai, China, one the busiest and main shopping streets.

[edit] Orientation

The North Sichuan Road (Chinese: 四川北路; pinyin: Sì Chuān Běi Lù), is a significant street in Shanghai, financial center of China. It's an important commercial street in centre shanghai, and also the most prosperous and busiest street in Hongkou District. Before the Second Sino-Japanese War, once this road was called the North of the Sichuan Road. It runs south through the North Suzhou Road, passing through the Hengbang Road, and in the north links Shangyin Road. Then, the shape of this road looks much like the letter “S”. It joints Duolun Road, and runs to the East Jiangwan Road. It turns to the west, ended at the Hongkou Park, the public park of Shanghai.

[edit] History

Before Shanghai has been settled as a port city, the North Sichuan Road was only a secondary street linked the Suzhou Creek and the Baoshang Town (now is Baoshang District of Shanghai), During 1860s, there were several stores and a nature ice stadium. After the complete of the construction of the bridge over Suzhou creek and the Song-Hu railway, there were more and more shops and inhabitants moved to this area. In 1877, the government started to pave the street, and at the same year, Gongji Hospital (the first people hospital at present) moved from French Settlement of the Bund to this area. Later years, with the construction of the road system, it grew up gradually. Firstly, it was named as the North of the Ferry Bridge. Then because of its connection with the Sichuan Road, it was renamed as the North of the Sichuan Road.

During 1920s, an increasing number of Japanese immigrated to this area. There appeared lots of Japanese stores, restaurants, tea rooms, hospital, school and public facilities, such as Goumaizuhe (now is Sichuan Chinese traditional medicine Store), Fumin Hospital (now is the Fourth People's Hospital), North Japan Xunchang primary school (now is the middle school attached to Education College), Neishan Hospital, Japan Printing store. Even more, there was Vegetable Market special for the Japanese immigrants. Thanks to the development of the public facilities around this area, from 1920s, the North of the Sichuan Road became the third largest street of Shanghai (after Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road).

[edit] Events

In 1937, when the “819” Japanese Invade War broke out, this area was occupied by Japanese and as the place where troops were stationed. Because of the severe Control by Japanese, most of the local inhabitants moved out of this area. The stores along the North of the Sichuan Road were Closed gradually. Only some of the Japanese stores were still going on. The North of the Sichuan Road went to pot during that period.

In 1945, after the Second World War, the Japanese troops and immigrants moved out,. More and more shops came back to this area. Stores, Fuxing Middle School, theater and book stores reopened. It worth to mention that a new Public Museum (now is No.1844, North Sichuan Road) set up. In the same year, trolley car and bus system restarted to work. In the 1st Jan 1946, the North of Sichuan Road was formally named as North Sichuan Road.

After the National Liberation, North Sichuan Road turns to be more and more important in people's life. At present, North Sichuan Road has become an integrated international commercial street of Shanghai.