Ringing the changes

Shanghai has developed, but its historic churches and cathedrals have survived despite some major renovations, Xu Junqian reports.

Shanghai may rank as China's largest city, but its history is relatively brief. It took only a few centuries for the populous urban center that we know and love to develop from a small fishing village and textile trading port into China's financial hub.

In terms of landmarks, Shanghai is more famous for its Bund waterfront and City God Temple landmark, the last of which commemorates the neighboring commercial area as much as the Buddhist temple itself, but it also has its share of historic churches and cathedrals. These pay testament to the impression left on its residents over the years by Christian and Catholic missionaries. Here we list the best of the best for history buffs, believers and day-trippers.