North Sichuan Road (Shanghai)

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

Orientation

The North Sichuan Road is a significant street in Shanghai, financial center of China. It's an important commercial street in central 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, passes through the Hengbang Road, and in the north links Shangyin Road. Then, the shape of this road looks much like the letter “S”. It joins Duolun Road, and runs to the East Jiangwan Road. It turns to the west, ended at the Hongkou Park, the public park of Shanghai.

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 Baoshan Town (now is Baoshan District of Shanghai). During 1860s, there were several stores and a natural ice stadium. After the completion of the construction of the bridge over Suzhou Creek and the Woosung Railway, more and more shops and inhabitants moved to this area. In 1877, the government started to pave the street, and in 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 houses, hospitals, schools 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, and Japan Printing store. Even more, there was a 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).

Events

When the Battle of Shanghai broke out on August 13 1937, this area was occupied by Japanese troops. 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 open. The 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's worth mentioning that a new Public Museum (now is No.1844, North Sichuan Road) set up. In the same year, trolley car and bus system were resumed. On the 1st Jan 1946, the North of Sichuan Road was formally named as North Sichuan Road.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, North Sichuan Road turned to be more and more important in people's life. At present, North Sichuan Road has become an integrated international commercial street of Shanghai.

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