Battle of Shanghai

Name: Battle of Shanghai
ISBN: 9787516225202

Yan KaiChina Democracy and Legal System Publishing House · ChinaJan 2026

3.7

Word count: 305 words
Chapters: 9
ISBN: 9787516225202

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Summary

Adapted from the classic film Zhan Shanghai, this illustrated story follows the 1949 campaign in which the Third Field Army of the People's Liberation Army encircled Shanghai and fought the 300,000 Nationalist troops entrenched there. After advancing to the city's outskirts, our forces devised a plan to both liberate Shanghai and preserve the city. Exploiting factional rifts among Chiang Kai-shek's troops, they first lured his loyalist units out of the city and annihilated them, then, with support from the underground party and guided by workers, fought their way into the urban center. The Nationalist army withdrew to the north bank of the Suzhou River, where our forces pressed the attack and crushed the enemy's stubborn resistance. The remaining Nationalist troops under Liu Yi, caught between military pressure and political offensives, were forced to hole up in the city center and eventually surrendered with their commander.

Editor's review

Zhan Shanghai is a work of historical reportage that vividly reconstructs the 1949 Shanghai campaign. Drawing on meticulous archival research and detailed verification, author Yan Kai, a military historian, presents a panoramic account of this classic operation likened to "catching mice in a china shop." The book's value lies not only in its military reconstruction but also in its deep exploration of the complex challenges the Chinese Communist Party faced in taking over China's largest city—how to protect urban infrastructure amid gunfire, stabilize financial order, and win the trust of residents. The portrayal of commanders such as Chen Yi and Su Yu is especially compelling, showing the combination of strategic wisdom and political foresight. Compared with similar works, the book pays greater attention to socioeconomic analysis; its treatment of economic battles such as the "Silver Dollar War" and the "Rice and Cotton War" helps readers understand that the liberation of Shanghai was not only a military victory but also a test of urban governance. The writing is rigorous yet lively, and the combination of archival materials and oral histories enhances readability. For readers seeking to understand the origins of modern Shanghai's urban history or to study the Chinese Communist Party's urban takeover policies, this book offers a rare micro-level perspective.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the history of the Liberation War, especially urban assault campaigns
Researchers focused on the Chinese Communist Party's early practices in urban governance
Readers of history and culture eager to understand Shanghai's socioeconomic changes around 1949
Readers who enjoy in-depth historical narratives based on archival sources

Not a good fit for

Hardcore military enthusiasts seeking pure tactical analysis
Casual readers looking for light, entertaining historical stories

Reading tips

Begin with the appendix battle situation maps and order of battle to establish a spatial and temporal framework
Read alongside a modern map of Shanghai, using geographic references such as the Bund buildings and Suzhou Creek bridges to sense the historical space
Focus on the economic front content from chapter ten onward, which distinguishes this book from ordinary military histories

About the publisher

China Democracy and Legal System Publishing House China · Founded in 1989

China Democracy and Legal System Publishing House focuses on professional legal publishing. Its output covers working materials for state organs of power, compilations of laws and regulations, legal popularization readers for the public, law textbooks and documentation on people's congress work, with law, politics and social sciences as common categories. Representative titles in the catalog include the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China, the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China, alongside practice- and research-oriented works such as Legislators Explaining the Law: Li Yuan's Reports on Legal Interpretation and On Record Review and Constitutional Review. Its authors include Li Yuan, Qin Qianhong, the General Office of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and editorial teams. The press emphasizes accuracy in legal texts and the organization of practical people's congress materials, while also serving public legal education.

版权信息
编委会
剧情说明
演职员表
正文一
正文二
正文三
正文四
正文五

FAQ

How does this book differ from the film Zhan Shanghai or similar works?

This book emphasizes historical reportage and scholarly analysis, drawing on extensive archives and historical sources, and is far deeper than artistic works. It not only describes the campaign but also systematically analyzes the political, economic, and social dimensions of the takeover, giving it historical source value.

What is author Yan Kai's academic background?

Yan Kai is a professional researcher in a relevant field at the Academy of Military Sciences, long engaged in organizing and compiling historical materials on the Liberation War. He has participated in compiling several authoritative military histories, and his works are known for solid sources and comprehensive perspective.

Does the book include previously unpublished historical materials?

The book cites declassified archives from institutions such as the Shanghai Municipal Archives and the PLA Archives, as well as first-hand materials including participants' diaries and memoirs. Some details of the economic struggles are systematically presented for the first time in a popular history book.

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About the author

Yan Kai Author · Chinese · 1982

Yan Kai was born in Beijing in November 1982. He holds a master's degree and the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Armed Police. In 2007 he graduated from the School of Journalism and Communication at Renmin University of China with a specialization in communication studies, and subsequently joined the military. He formerly served as head of the organization and education section of the political department of the Haidian District Public Security Fire Brigade in Beijing. Long engaged in political and ideological work, he has served as chief editor of more than a hundred titles, including illustrated adaptations of classic red films, patriotic education series, therapeutic-diet cookbooks, and folk-culture readers. His representative works include Red Banner Spectrum, Wild Fire and Spring Wind Fighting the Ancient City, Haixia, Fighting North and South, Red Sun, The Visitor on the Iceberg, Grassland, and By the Jinsha River. Most of these are based on revolutionary history and adaptations of red classics, giving him a broad readership in social-science publications.