Shanghai China Bubbling Well Road Doubledeck Bus Old Cars Rickshaw 1930 Real Photo Postcard
Bubbling Well Road, now known as Nanjing West Road, was a central artery within Shanghai's International Settlement, a key administrative and commercial area under foreign control. Named for the ancient Jing'an Temple (or Bubbling Well Temple) at its western terminus, the road developed into a vibrant thoroughfare that showcased early 20th-century urban life with its blend of modern architecture, electric trams, automobiles, and traditional rickshaws, suggesting a scene from the 1930s.
This period was marked by Shanghai's rapid growth as an international hub for trade and finance, reflecting a unique fusion of Eastern and Western influences. The International Settlement, and thoroughfares like Bubbling Well Road, symbolized the city's complex geopolitical status, attracting a diverse population and fostering a bustling commercial environment before the widespread impact of the Second Sino-Japanese War later in the decade altered the city's foreign-dominated landscape.
This period was marked by Shanghai's rapid growth as an international hub for trade and finance, reflecting a unique fusion of Eastern and Western influences. The International Settlement, and thoroughfares like Bubbling Well Road, symbolized the city's complex geopolitical status, attracting a diverse population and fostering a bustling commercial environment before the widespread impact of the Second Sino-Japanese War later in the decade altered the city's foreign-dominated landscape.
