In 1978 reformer Deng Xiaoping came to power and, as a consequence, China began to
open up to the world in the early 1980s. The first cities to be opened were called
"Special Economic Zones", four in total: Shantou, Xiamen, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai.

The development of Shanghai did not begin until the early 1990s, ten years later
than than of the southern coast.

In Deng's words, "Shanghai was once an international banking center. It is necessary
to resume this practice. China's hopes of attaining an international financial
position must be pinned on Shanghai."

The two pictures above show the spectacular pace of development since Shanghai's
opening to the world.