Introduction Of Shanghai City

　 Exposed to Western influences as well as unparalleled economic development, pre‐war Shanghai was the nursery of many modern developments in Chinese culture. Lu Xun led the development of modern Chinese literature during his time here and literature by Shanghainese writers followed his lead. The prints and graphic arts of the period are rightly renowned as important cultural manifestos for new artistic styles and fashions. Shanghai cinema likewise was an important catalyst for China's cultural evolution. All this ended with the war and the Communist government has since kept a tight lid on cultural and other forms of activity. Cultural experimentation that has happened since has been more or less controlled. Well supported ensembles, such as the Shanghai Ballet Company, the Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and the Shanghai Municipal Performance Company, keep Shanghai at the forefront of official culture. Common prejudice has it that Beijing has the intellectuals and artists, while Shanghai has the down‐to‐earth wealth creators – but such easy categories fly in the face of Shanghai's modern cultural importance. Shanghai is also smart and sophisticated and that implies a cultural gloss.