http://shanghaiist.com/2007/02/02/oh_that_kind_of.php All comments for Oh, that kind of pillbox en-us 2009 shang_kenneth Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:00:13 +0800 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss kenneth@shanghaiist.com kenneth@shanghaiist.com 60 http://shanghaiist.com/2007/02/02/oh_that_kind_of.php#comment-1002296 http://shanghaiist.com/2007/02/02/oh_that_kind_of.php#comment-1002296 Comments Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:20:11 +0800 <p>It's a shame they are removing the pillboxes. Many were likely created during the "January 28 Incident" in 1932, when the Japanese launched a "trial-run" invasion of Shanghai's Zhabei District, leading to six weeks of fighting during which the KMT forces put up a stubborn and commendable resistance. Either the fire or looting by poor migrants from the Jiangbei region also caused a huge fire throughout the district. During their six-week occupation, the Japanese set up a puppet government in Zhabei, headed by a former bathhouse owner, which immediately started engaging in all kinds of illicit activities - including many of the gang-linked brothels and opium dens the French were gamely trying to kick out of their Concession. Much diplomatic hand-wringing and arm-twisting by Great Britain, France, Germany and the US led to the eventual Japanese withdrawel. So there's lots of history to the pillboxes, which some signage would make interesting for all kinds of tourists. I say leave them - there's little enough of Old Shanghai around as is.</p>