Rekindling a Doomed Romance

Prologue: On November 29, 1845, Gong Mujiu, the Qing government's Songjiang-Suzhou-Taicang circuit intendant, and British Consul George Balfour jointly promulgated the Shanghai Land Regulations, establishing the Shanghai International Settlement. The American and French concessions were established afterward. The International Settlement was formed in 1854. In 1862, the French Concession separated from the International Settlement. Although many matters in the concessions were still decided by foreigners, the situation gradually changed in the early years of the Republic of China. As the Chinese people developed a stronger sense of national sovereignty and nationalist sentiment surged, relations between Chinese and foreigners in the concessions underwent a major shift, and the situation began to favor the Chinese. At the same time, a number of outstanding Chinese figures made their mark among the foreigners. As they continually fought for the interests of the Chinese, they gradually came to stand as equals with the foreigners. Xiandao Zhang was one of them. Xiandao Zhang, a renowned Chinese barrister, was recommended by Shanghai Mayor Yuzhu Chun and appointed to the board of the French Concession's Municipal Council, becoming its first Chinese board member! Theme: