Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2017 | Page 33

The Old city of Shanghai
Ying Wa Primary School, Chan, Jonathan - 11
I
am the Old city of Shanghai and I am the urban core of Shanghai in China. I am very picturesque because a lot of
elegant architectures in Chinese style sit inside me. I am home to many people in the past and they all lived peacefully.
I may not be famous and familiar to you but actually I am wonderful and great.
My Appearance
First of all, I am surrounded by a deep moat, if you want to see me, you’d better ride in a boat. Also, people needed to get
through gates before they can get into my territory.
The thing that made me the proudest is definitely my stone wall which is rough and strong. That’s always my favorite. It
is like an indestructible armor which is made of stone and it is grey in color. It may be plain and normal to you but don’t
judge a book by its cover! My armor is actually very useful because it is to protect people living inside me from evil and
sinister Japanese Pirates.
My birth and Life Twisting Points
I remembered that I was born in 1553 during the Ming Dynasty. People loved me at first in the 12 th and 13 th for market
activities and trading. And then in the Song Dynasty, I was chosen as the location of one of seven customs authorities
across the empire to handle overseas trades. I became a city that was very useful and people always remembered me. I
remembered that I was even being raised to county status in 1292, becoming the seat of the new county. I was once very
proud of myself.
But after years, there was war going on and in 1927, there was a bid to establish a tangible Chinese authority in Shanghai,
the government established the Special Municipality of Shanghai. The municipal government was moved out of the Old
City to near Xujiahui. And things were even worse later on, the county government moved out. Oh… and this was the
end of my role as the seat of the government of Shanghai. And bit by bit, I was forgotten and betrayed. The parts of my
body were demolished by cruel people to make way for modernization. Some of them ripped off the wallpapers of me,
some of them even destroyed some of the most beautiful architectures that sit in me. It was painful and I felt agitated and
distraught. But luckily I was being protected later on, and now a small amount of people will visit me every day.
Dajing Ge Pavilion
Dajing Ge Pavilion was one of the architectures that remained inside me. The Pavilion has a unique rooftop and the
exterior is made of stone bricks. It is a museum and ancient temple in Shanghai. Tourists loved this place and it will be a
perfect place of taking photos.
Hope you now know more about me through this. You are welcome to come and visit me!