French Concession

French Concession
Name	French Concession
Subdivision name	China
Subdivision type1	Shanghai
Subdivision name1	Xuhui
Subdivision name2	Luwan
Timezone	China Standard Time
Utc offset	+8

French Concession. The French Concession was a foreign concession in Shanghai, China, from 1849 to 1943, which was established by the Treaty of Whampoa between France and the Qing dynasty. It was one of the earliest and most influential foreign concessions in Shanghai, along with the British Concession and the American Concession. The French Concession was known for its unique blend of French architecture, Chinese culture, and Art Deco style, which was popularized by architects such as Paul Veysseyre and László Hudec.

History

The French Concession was established in 1849, when France signed the Treaty of Whampoa with the Qing dynasty, gaining control over a large area of land in Shanghai. The concession was initially managed by the French Consulate in Shanghai, but later came under the control of the Municipal Council of the French Concession, which was composed of French and Chinese representatives. During the Boxer Rebellion, the French Concession was a key location for French and Allied forces, including the British Army and the United States Marine Corps. The concession was also home to many notable figures, including Sun Yat-sen, Chiang Kai-shek, and Mao Zedong, who often visited the concession to meet with French and other foreign diplomats, such as Georges Clemenceau and Woodrow Wilson.

Geography

The French Concession was located in the western part of Shanghai, bordering the British Concession to the north and the Chinese-controlled Nanshi District to the south. The concession covered an area of approximately 10 square kilometers, and was bounded by the Yan'an Road to the north, the Fuxing Road to the south, and the Huaihai Road to the east. The concession was also home to several parks and gardens, including the Fuxing Park and the Tianzifang area, which was designed by French landscape architects such as Édouard André and Jean-Marie Morel. The concession's geography was also influenced by the nearby Huangpu River, which played a crucial role in the development of Shanghai's port and shipping industry, with companies such as Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes and P&O Steam Navigation Company operating in the area.

Administration

The French Concession was administered by the Municipal Council of the French Concession, which was composed of French and Chinese representatives. The council was responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting taxes, and providing public services such as water supply and sanitation. The concession was also policed by the French Concession Police, which was composed of French and Chinese officers, and was known for its efficiency and effectiveness, with notable figures such as Maurice Duclos and Henri Barboux serving as police chiefs. The concession was also home to several diplomatic missions, including the French Embassy in China, the British Embassy in China, and the United States Embassy in China, which were located in the concession and played a crucial role in Sino-French relations, Sino-British relations, and Sino-American relations.

Culture

The French Concession was known for its unique cultural scene, which was influenced by French culture, Chinese culture, and Art Deco style. The concession was home to several theaters, including the Lyceum Theatre and the Cathay Theatre, which hosted performances by French and Chinese artists, such as Sarah Bernhardt and Mei Lanfang. The concession was also home to several restaurants and cafes, including the Cathay Hotel and the Park Hotel, which served French cuisine and Chinese cuisine, and were popular with foreigners and Chinese alike, including notable figures such as André Malraux and Pearl S. Buck. The concession's cultural scene was also influenced by the nearby Shanghai French School, which was founded by French missionaries and provided education to French and Chinese students, including notable figures such as Jacques Chirac and Deng Xiaoping.

Economy

The French Concession was an important economic center in Shanghai, with several banks, including the Banque de l'Indochine and the Crédit Lyonnais, and companies, including the Compagnie française des chemins de fer de l'Indochine and the Société des transports urbains de Shanghai. The concession was also home to several department stores, including the Sincere Department Store and the Wing On Department Store, which sold a wide range of goods, including French and Chinese products, and were popular with foreigners and Chinese alike, including notable figures such as Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling. The concession's economy was also influenced by the nearby Shanghai Stock Exchange, which was founded in 1891 and played a crucial role in the development of Shanghai's financial sector, with companies such as Jardine Matheson and Butterfield & Swire operating in the area.

Notable_Residents

The French Concession was home to many notable residents, including Sun Yat-sen, Chiang Kai-shek, and Mao Zedong, who often visited the concession to meet with French and other foreign diplomats, such as Georges Clemenceau and Woodrow Wilson. The concession was also home to several foreigners, including the British writer W. Somerset Maugham and the American writer Ernest Hemingway, who lived in the concession and wrote about its unique culture and lifestyle, as well as notable figures such as Noël Coward and Eileen Chang. The concession was also home to several Chinese intellectuals and artists, including the Chinese writer Lu Xun and the Chinese painter Xu Beihong, who were influenced by French culture and Art Deco style, and played a crucial role in the development of Chinese modernism, with notable figures such as Hu Shi and Chen Duxiu operating in the area.

Category:Former concessions in China