Podcasts about Shanghai

Last time we spoke about the fall of Shanghai. In October 1937 a small battalion led by Colonel Xie Jinyuan transformed the Sihang Warehouse into a fortress against the advancing Japanese army. These men, known as the "800 Heroes," became symbols of hope, rallying local citizens who provided vital support. Despite heavy casualties, they held out against overwhelming odds until a strategic retreat was ordered on November 1. As Japanese forces intensified their assaults, they breached the Chinese defenses and captured strategic positions along Suzhou Creek. The fighting was fierce, marked by desperate counterattacks from the besieged Chinese soldiers, who faced an unyielding enemy. By November 9, the Chinese faced a full retreat, their organized defenses collapsing into chaos as they fled the city. Desperate civilians sought refuge in the International Settlement but were met with hostility, exacerbating the terror of the moment. Amidst the turmoil, remaining forces continued to resist in pockets, holding out as long as possible. By November 11, Japanese troops raised their flag in the last stronghold, marking a grim victory.   #163 Crossing Nanjing's Rubicon Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. As the Japanese were mopping up Shanghai, Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary on November 11th “I fear that they could threaten Nanjing”. Over In Shanghai, General Matsui Iwane was dealing with foreign correspondents, eager to learn what Japan's next move would be and to this he simply stated “For future developments, you had better ask Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek”. The correspondents were surprised by this response and pressed him further. He replied . “Chiang Kai-shek was reported to have predicted a five-year war, well, it might be that long. We don't know whether we will go to Nanjing or not. It all depends on Chiang.” At this point Shanghai was falling under Japanese control and now Matsui and his fellow field commanders were thinking, what's next? Nanjing was certainly the next objective. It was a common understanding amongst the Japanese leadership, that if the four main eastern cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing were lost, Chiang Kai-Shek's government would collapse. Three of these cities had been taken, Nanjing was dangling like fresh fruit. Matsui's staff believed the Chinese units departing Shanghai would mount a stand immediately west of the city, probably a defensive line running from Jiading to Huangduzhen. On the night of November 11th, Matsui issued a command to all units in the Shanghai area to advance west along the railway towards Nanjing. Their first objective would be a line extending from Taicang to Kunshan. Chiang Kai-Shek was not only reeling from military defeats, but also the gradual loss of his German allies. The Germans were increasingly aligning with the Japanese. Chiang Kai-Shek was looking for new external help, so he turned to the Soviets. It was a marriage of convenience, Chiang Kai-Shek signed a non-aggression pact with the USSR that year and wasted no time pleading for aircraft and pilots. Moscow began sending them before the ink touched the paper. 200 aircraft and pilots in return for some essential minerals, wolfram and tungsten. The Sino-Soviet friendship even drew in an unlikely source of support, Sir Winston Churchill. The Soviet envoy to the UK described how during a meeting with Churchill “he greatly praised our tactics in the Far East: maintenance of neutrality and simultaneous aid to China in weaponry.” Soviet pilots found themselves dispatched to Nanjing where they were briefed by Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich, the deputy commander of the Soviet Air Force. “The Japanese armed forces are technically superior to the Chinese. The Chinese Air Force is a particular concern. Soviet pilots who have rushed to China's aid are currently in Nanjing. They are fighting valiantly.” Meanwhile back at Shanghai discipline and order that had characterized previous Chinese withdrawal had collapsed. Simply put, there were hundreds of thousands of men trying to retreat across the lower Yangtze region, it was a shitstorm. Many units had to disengage during combat with the enemy and scramble to pull out. Huang Qixiang, the deputy commander of the Chinese right flank in Shanghai, executed a strategic withdrawal moments before his command post succumbed to the advancing enemy forces. Just fifteen minutes after his departure, the area was overrun by Japanese troops. In a desperate bid to avoid capture, another general had to cross a creek, nearly drowning in the process. Rescued while barely clinging to life and drenched in icy water, he was welcomed by a peasant family who aided in his recovery before he resumed his arduous journey westward. The scale of this withdrawal, occurring both day and night, could hardly escape the enemy's notice, and its complexity made the operation increasingly difficult. The execution of the withdrawal exacerbated the situation significantly. Orders to abandon their positions started to trickle down immediately after the upper command made the decision. However, these orders reached the units in a disorganized manner. Many telephone lines had been sabotaged, and when soldiers were sent to relay the orders in person, they faced severe disruptions in the transportation network. Consequently, many units only became aware of the withdrawal when they witnessed the mass movements of their comrades heading westward. Upon realizing what was happening, many soldiers fled in a state of panic. There were no comprehensive plans outlining the retreat, no designated routes for the various units, nor any established timetables. The outcome was a chaotic scramble for survival. Soldiers who had fought side by side for three months suddenly found themselves competing against one another in a desperate race to escape. At bridges and other chokepoints, weary soldiers exhausted their last reserves of strength, brawling with their fellow troops to be the first to cross. Meanwhile, officers traveling in chauffeur-driven cars attempted to assert their rank to gain priority access to the roads, adding to the growing disorder that ensued. The massive army was hindered by its sheer size, resulting in miles of congested roads filled with men unable to move in any direction. This made them easy targets for Japanese aircraft, leading to a bloody cycle of repeated attacks. Planes adorned with the red Rising Sun insignia would emerge from the horizon, swooping down to strike at these vulnerable formations. As commander Chen Yiding recalled “The lack of organization and the gridlocked roads resulted in far more casualties than could have been avoided,”.  On November 12th, the newspaper Zhaongyang Ribao, published an editorial addressing the citizens of Nanjing, to remind them that tough times lay ahead now that Shanghai had fallen. The article stipulated they needed to prepare the city for the upcoming battle,  “Now, all the citizenry of the capital must fulfill their duty in a way that can serve as a model for the entire nation.” Nanjing in 1937 was a city touched by the war, but not enough to change the social fabric just yet. Cinema's remained open, the shopping arcade was crowded as usual, traffic was heavy along Zhongshan Road, order remained. Telephones remained on, except during air raids. Connections to the outside world functioned as they should, given this was the capital. The region had seen a good harvest in 1937, no one was going hungry. However as the front 200 miles away drew closer, bombing raids more frequent, fear of the enemy increased. Contact with the outside world gradually declined. By mid November the train link from Nanjing to Shanghai was severed.  While the fear amongst the populace increased, so did a newfound sense of common purpose against a common enemy. Poster calling for the Chinese to unite against the Japanese invaders were found throughout Nanjing. Residents were conscripted for various fortification efforts, with some receiving basic military training to help defend the city. Those who refused to cooperate faced severe penalties as “traitors,” while the majority willingly participated. Both military and civilian police were deployed throughout the city, diligently checking identities in an ongoing effort to root out spies and traitors. The authorities enforced a strict prohibition against discussing military matters in restaurants and other public venues. Then all the high ranking military officials and politicians families gradually began departing the city in secrecy. This was followed by said politicians and military officials. Twas not a good look. Nanjing soon saw its population decline from 1 million to half a million. Those who stayed behind were mainly the poor, or those anchored, like shopkeepers. Every day saw a steady stream of Nanjing citizens leaving the city over her main roads, fleeing into the countryside with carts full of belongings. On November 12th at 10am orders were issued for the Japanese to advance west. What had been a war of attrition, where inches of land were claimed with blood, suddenly it was a war of movement. As one Japanese soldier recalled “In the course of 50 days, I had moved only two miles. Now suddenly we were experiencing rapid advance”. As the Japanese came across small towns, they found large posters plastered on all the walls. These were all anti-japanese with some nationalist propaganda. The Japanese soldiers would tear them down and paint up their own messages “down with Chiang Kai-Shek!”.  Towns and cities west of Shanghai fell rapidly one after another, each succumbing to a grim pattern: swift conquest followed by widespread devastation. Jiading, a county seat with a population of approximately 30,000, succumbed to a prolonged siege. When the 10st division captured Jiading on November 13, after relentless shelling had leveled a third of the city, they began a massacre, indiscriminately killing nearly everyone in their path, men, women, and children alike. The battle and its aftermath resulted in over 8,000 casualties among the city's residents and surrounding countryside. One Japanese soldier referred to Jiading as “A city of death, in a mysteriously silent world in which the only sound was the tap of our own footsteps”.  On November 14, soldiers from the 9th Division reached Taicang, an ancient walled city designed to withstand lengthy sieges. As they crossed the 70-foot moat amid heavy fire, the Japanese troops confronted the formidable 20-foot-high city wall. After breaching the wall, their infantry swiftly entered the city and seized control. The destruction persisted long after the fighting ceased, with half of the city being devastated, including significant cultural institutions like the library, and salt and grain reserves were looted. It was as if the Japanese aimed to obliterate not just the material existence of the people but their spiritual foundation as well.  Casual cruelty marked the nature of warfare along the entire front, with few prisoners being taken. Ishii Seitaro, a soldier in the 13th Division's 26th Brigade, encountered a mass execution while marching alongside the Yangtze River. Several headless corpses floated nearby, yet three Chinese prisoners remained alive. A Japanese officer, personally overseeing the execution, wore a simple uniform, but the two ornate swords at his belt indicated his wealthy background. Approaching one prisoner, the officer dramatically drew one of the swords and brandished it through the air with exaggerated flair. In an almost theatrical display, he held it aloft, the blade trembling as if he were nervous. The prisoner, in stark contrast, exhibited an unnerving calmness as he knelt, awaiting his inevitable fate. The officer swung the sword down but failed to deliver a clean strike. Although he inflicted a deep gash to the prisoner's skull, it was not fatal. The prisoner collapsed, thrashing and emitting a prolonged scream that sent chills through those present. The officer, seemingly exhilarated by the anguish he caused, began wildly slashing at the figure until the screams subsided. Ishii turned away in horror, his mind swirling with confusion. Why were the Chinese being executed? Had they not surrendered?  Three months into the war's expansion to the Yangtze region, air raids had become an all too frequent menace in Nanjing. The first major raid came on August 15th and increased each week. On the night of August 27, approximately 30 bombs were dropped on Purple Mountain, specifically targeting the Memorial Park for Sun Yat-sen, aiming to hurt the morale of Nanjing's residents. As days melted into weeks and weeks stretched into months, the landscape of Nanjing transformed under the weight of war. Residents began constructing dugouts in courtyards, gardens, public squares, and even on streets. Foreigners painted their national flags on top of buildings and vehicles, attempting to avoid the risk of being machine-gunned by strafing aircraft. Each raid followed a predictable routine: sirens wailed loudly 20 to 30 minutes before the attack, signaling pedestrians to seek shelter and drivers to stop their engines. By the time a shorter warning sounded, the streets had to be cleared, leaving nothing to do but await the arrival of Japanese planes. Initially, the part-US-trained Chinese Air Force posed a considerable threat to Japanese bombers. The 4th and 5th Chinese Squadrons, stationed near Nanjing to defend the capital, achieved early success, reportedly downing six bombers during the first air raid on Nanjing. Much of the credit for these aerial victories belonged to Claire Chennault, a retired American Army Air Corps captain who had become an advisor to the Chinese Air Force, overseeing Nanjing's air defense. Chennault taught his pilots tactics he had developed in the US but had never fully implemented. His strategy was straightforward: three fighters would focus on one enemy bomber at a time. One would attack from above, another from below, while a third would hover in reserve to deliver the final blow if necessary. He instructed the Chinese pilots to target the engines rather than the fuselage, reasoning that any missed shots could hit the gas tanks located in the wing roots. This approach proved successful, leading to the loss of 54 Japanese planes within three days. For Chennault, it validated his belief that air superiority required a diverse range of aircraft, not just bombers. Nighttime raids, however, posed a greater challenge. Chennault, along with other commanders, sought solutions. Chinese General C.C. Wong, a German-trained artillery officer overseeing the country's anti-aircraft defenses, ensured that dozens of large Sperry searchlights were positioned throughout Nanjing in a grid pattern. This setup had a dual purpose: it would dazzle the Japanese bomber crews and highlight their planes in silhouette for Chinese fighters above to target. The bravery of the most skilled Chinese pilots occasionally gained media attention, making them local celebrities amidst an otherwise grim war environment. However, this bright moment faded quickly when the Japanese command decided to provide escorts for their bombers. Consequently, the elite of China's air force, its finest pilots and aircraft, were lost within weeks that fall. All air raids were brutal, but the worst assaults occurred at the end of September. As a radio broadcaster reported on September 25th “Gallons of civilian blood flowed today as Nanking endured three ferocious air raids”. In total, 96 Japanese sorties were launched on that day. Witnesses observed around a dozen Chinese aircraft retreating north across the Yangtze, initially believing they were fleeing, but some returned to confront the enemy. When Chinese fighters managed to down a Japanese bomber, the streets erupted in cheers as civilians momentarily forgot their fear. The primary aim of the September 25 attack appeared to be spreading terror among the civilian population. Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary that day  “The repeated Japanese air raids over the past several days have had no impact on our military installations. Instead, civilian property has sustained significant damage.” Around 20 bombs struck the Central Hospital, one of Nanjing's largest medical facilities, causing extensive destruction and prompting the evacuation of its staff. Two 1,000-pound bombs exploded nearby, leaving large craters. Had these bombs landed slightly closer, they could have resulted in mass casualties among the hospital's 100 patients, including a Japanese pilot who had been shot down earlier that month. The air raids at the end of September prompted protests from the Americans, British, and French governments to Japan. In response, Tokyo issued a statement on September 30, asserting that while they were not intentionally targeting non-combatants, it was “unavoidable” for achieving military objectives that military airfields and installations in and around Nanjing be bombed.   The battle for Jiashan was among the fiercest in the southern Yangtze delta campaign in November 1937. Although Jiashan was a moderately sized town straddling a crucial railway connecting Shanghai to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. For the Japanese, seizing Jiashan was imperative for their westward advance; without it, their military progress would be severely hampered. Jiashan had endured three days of relentless bombing by the Japanese Air Force, driving most residents to flee into the surrounding countryside. Only about 100 remained, those who were too old or too sick to escape, abandoned by family or friends who lacked the means to assist them. The Japanese troops brutally bayoneted nearly all of these individuals and buried them in a mass grave just outside the town's northern gate. Jiashan was captured by the 10th Army, a division fresh from victories and eager to engage in combat, unlike the weary forces of the Shanghai Expeditionary Force further north. With less than a week of combat experience, the 10th Army's soldiers were hungry for a fight. The martial spirit of the 10th Army was exemplified by its commander, Yanagawa Heisuke. Born near Nagasaki in 1879, he was among a group of retired officers called back to active service as the war in China escalated unexpectedly. Having served in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 and taught at the Beijing Army College in 1918, Yanagawa had considerable experience in military affairs. However, his past exposure to China did not cultivate any empathy for the enemy. He was determined to push all the way to Nanjing, and once there, he intended to blanket the city in mustard gas and incendiaries until it capitulated. While Japanese commanders debated the value of capturing Nanjing, the Chinese were equally preoccupied with whether it was worth defending. Most military professionals viewed the situation as a lost cause from the start. After the fall of Shanghai, Chiang Kai-shek summoned one of his top commanders, Chen Cheng, to Nanjing for discussions. “How can Nanjing be held?” Chen Cheng shot back “Are you ordering me to hold Nanjing?” Chiang replied “I am not”. Chen Cheng stated frankly, “I believe Nanjing should not be held at all.” By mid-November, Bai Chongxi, one of China's most respected generals, advocated for declaring Nanjing an open city. He argued that defending it was not only unnecessary but also impossible. All available forces had been deployed to Shanghai and were now exhausted. Furthermore, no reinforcements would be forthcoming if they made a stand in Nanjing. Instead of stubbornly clinging to fixed positions, he preferred a more flexible defensive strategy. Zhang Qun, Chiang's secretary, supported Bai's stance, believing that while Nanjing should ultimately be abandoned, political considerations were paramount. If the Chinese simply withdrew and allowed the Japanese to occupy the city, it would undermine China's position in any future negotiations. The Japanese would not be able to present themselves as victors who had triumphed in battle. Similarly, Chiang's chief military advisor, General Alexander von Falkenhausen, was against attempting to hold Nanjing. He deemed it “useless from a military perspective, suggesting it would be madness.” He warned that if Chiang forced his army into a decisive battle with their backs to the Yangtze River, “a disaster would probably be unavoidable.” Chiang's head of the operations bureau Liu Fei argued Nanjing could not be abandoned without a fight as it would crush the NRA's morale. He believed that defending the city could be managed with as few as 12 regiments, although 18 would be feasible. Most at the meeting agreed and Chiang understood Nanjing's international recognition necessitated some form of defense, doomed or not. A second meeting was formed whereupon, Tang Shengzhi, a general staff officer whose loyalties were, lets be honest very flip floppy. During the warlord era, he routinely switched sides, especially against Chiang Kai-Shek. At the meeting Tang stated in regards to Nanjing's international prominence and being the final resting place of Dr Sun Yat-Sen “How can we face the spirit of the former president in heaven? We have no choice but to defend the capital to the death.” Chiang's commanders were all well aware of his intentions. The generalissimo was eager for a dramatic last stand in Nanjing to serve propaganda purposes, aiming to rally the nation and convey to the world that China was resolute in its fight against Japan. His commanders also recognized the rationale behind fighting for Nanjing; however, very few were inclined to embark on what seemed a likely suicide mission. The third meeting occurred the day after the second. Chiang opened by asking, as many anticipated, “Who is willing to shoulder the burden of defending Nanjing?” An awkward silence followed. Then Tang Shengzhi stepped forward. “Chairman, if no one else is willing, I will. I'm prepared to defend Nanjing and to hold it to the death.” Without hesitation, Chiang accepted his offer. “Good, the responsibility is yours.”A little refresher on Tang, he had played a role in Chiang Kai-shek's efforts to unify China by force in the 1920s, when the nation was a patchwork of fiefdoms. However, their relationship had soured on two occasions, forcing Tang into temporary exile, first to Japan and then to Hong Kong. The Japanese invasion of northeastern China in 1931 prompted a loose reconciliation, and since then, Tang had held several important positions, notably organizing war games simulating a Japanese assault on Nanjing. However Tang had often suffered from illness, and crucially, he had not led troops in the field against the Japanese since the onset of full-scale war that summer. Hailing from Hunan province, he was a typical provincial soldier and would likely face challenges commanding respect among elite divisions loyal solely to the central government in Nanjing. He was definitely not the first choice for such a significant task.  Amazingly, while tens of thousands of Chinese and Japanese were killing each other, while Japanese planes relentlessly bombarded Chinese cities including the capital, and while Japanese soldiers committed heinous atrocities against Chinese civilians, the two nations maintained diplomatic relations. China had a fully operational embassy in Tokyo, led by Xu Shiying, a 65-year-old diplomat. This surreal arrangement persisted because neither side was willing to officially declare war. In the fall of 1937, as Japanese armies were heavily engaged on two fronts within mainland China, Xu met with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirota Koki to propose a non-aggression treaty. The proposal was swiftly rejected in Nanjing. By November 1937, Xu was no longer at the forefront of events, and foreign observers shifted their focus from the capitals of the warring nations to Belgium. While large-scale battles raged along the lower Yangtze, representatives from 19 countries convened in Brussels to search for a way to end hostilities. Although China participated in the conference, Japan did not. Japan had received two invitations to join the talks, with its response to the second arriving in Brussels on November 12: a firm rejection. Japan asserted that it preferred direct bilateral negotiations with China, dismissing the Brussels conference held under the auspices of the Nine-Power Treaty, a pact signed in 1922 aimed at ensuring China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Japan argued that intervention by a collective body like the conference “would merely stir national sentiments in both countries and complicate efforts to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution.” The League of Nations had called for a Nine-Power conference a month earlier, which ultimately became a 19-power conference as other nations with interests in East Asia joined. From the outset, Japan opposed the assembly and was absent when the first plenary meeting commenced in Brussels on November 3. Japanese leaders feared that China might attempt to leverage the conference against Western powers, recalling how, in 1895, Japan had been denied its spoils following its first modern war with China due to the intervention of Russia, France, and Germany, who blocked Japan from claiming the strategic Liaodong Peninsula adjacent to Korea. China also exhibited a lukewarm attitude toward the conference. While Japan feared the potential outcomes, China was concerned about the lack of significant results. The proposal to transition discussions from the League of Nations, perceived as ineffective, to the even less authoritative Nine Powers, which lacked formal organization. Nonetheless, the Chinese chose to participate in Brussels, maintaining the pretense that something meaningful could be accomplished. Shortly after Japan's second rejection of the invitation, Wellington Koo made an impassioned plea in Brussels, stating, “Now that the door to conciliation and mediation has been slammed in your face by the latest reply of the Japanese Government, will you not decide to withhold supplies of war materials and credit to Japan and extend aid to China?” In reality, Koo understood that significant Western aid to China was highly unlikely, aside from token gestures. Previous international discussions had momentarily halted Japanese advances in the past; for instance, in 1932, Japanese troops had paused their movements in the Shanghai area just hours before the League of Nations General Assembly commenced. However, that was nearly six years earlier, and circumstances had changed dramatically since then. Rogue states had grown bolder, while democracies seemed increasingly timid. Thus, the Chinese agenda in Brussels was not primarily driven by hopes for substantial Western concessions. Instead, the delegates had been tasked by Nanjing to anticipate the post-conference landscape and to actively seek ways to encourage Europe and America to support Soviet military action against Japan.   China, long reliant on Germany as a diplomatic partner, increasingly felt betrayed, not just by Germany, but also by its fascist ally, Italy. Consequently, it began looking more favorably upon the Soviet Union, Japan's archrival in Northeast Asia, as its main source of international support. The Soviet Union exhibited a firmer stance than the Western democracies at the Brussels conference, joining China in advocating for collective security in Europe and Asia. On November 15th, a small group of officers from the 10th Army gathered for late-night discussions in an abandoned building north of Hangzhou Bay, where they would effectively decide the fate of China. Yanagawa Heisuke, the commander of the 10th Army, presided over the discussions. Fresh from the battlefield since the beginning of the month, he was eager to escalate the fight, a sentiment echoed among the others. It was an unusual meeting, where officers as low in rank as major were making decisions typically reserved for the highest echelons of political power. The agenda included a pivotal question: Should they adhere to Order No. 600 received from Tokyo a week prior, which instructed them to halt their advance along a line from Suzhou to Jiaxing? Or, should they disregard these explicit orders and push forward to seize Nanjing? While the Japanese Army had failed to completely annihilate the Chinese forces around Shanghai, there was a consensus that their adversary was now reeling from recent setbacks, presenting an opportune moment to strike decisively and secure a swift victory. The only remaining question was how aggressively to pursue this goal. Colonel Terada Masao, a senior staff officer within the 10th Army, spoke first. “The Chinese Army is currently retreating toward the capital. We should cross that line and pursue the enemy straight to Nanjing.” Major Iketani Hanjiro, a staff officer recently attached to the fast-moving 6th Division, then offered his input “From a tactical perspective, I completely agree with Terada that we should cross the line, but the decision to attack Nanjing should be considered not just tactically, but also politically. It's not that field commanders can't create a fait accompli to pressure our superiors in Tokyo. However, we must proceed with great caution”. A staff officer raised this question  “What if Tokyo orders us to pull back those smaller units?” Iketani responded “In that case, we will, of course, withdraw them to this side of the line”. Ultimately, Iketani's cautions were set aside, and Terada's aggressive approach prevailed. The majority agreed that the tactical circumstances presented a rare opportunity. Japanese troops in the Shanghai area were poised to advance west, not through small, individual skirmishes but with a substantial deployment of their forces. Officers estimated that if a decisive push was made immediately, Nanjing could fall into Japanese hands within 20 days. However Colonel Kawabe Torashiro, the newly appointed chief of the Army General Staff's Operations Section suddenly arrived at the theater. He was sent on a mission to assess whether the Central China Area Army should be granted greater operational freedom. It was well known in Tokyo that field officers were eager to capitalize on the momentum created by the collapse of Chinese defenses around Shanghai. Kawabe's task was to explore the possibility of allowing forces to cross the line from Suzhou to Jiaxing and move westward in pursuit of the retreating enemy. However, Kawabe was staunchly opposed to further military adventures in China. Kawabe was part of the dwindling faction of "China doves" within the Japanese military. As early as the summer of 1937, he had become alarmed by a letter from a civilian Japanese visitor to the Chinese mainland, warning that Japanese officers were attempting to engineer an “incident” with China to provoke open conflict. This would provide Japan with a pretext to expand its influence in northern China. Kawabe had attempted to alert his superiors, but his warnings fell on deaf ears. They had been lulled into a false sense of security by reports from China that dismissed all talk of war-mongering as baseless and alarmist. When he arrived to the front he stated “I am here to inspect conditions on the ground so that a final decision can be made on where to establish the operational restriction line”. Alongside him came General Akira Muto, recently appointed the commander of the Central China Area Army. He also happened to be one of the architects of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. Muto responded promptly: “The line currently stretches from Suzhou to Jiaxing, but we should consider crossing it. This will help us achieve our overall objectives in the theater.” Muto continued, arguing that the 10th Army should be permitted to advance to Huzhou, south of Lake Tai, effectively cutting off communications between Nanjing and the strategic city of Hangzhou. He further claimed that the Shanghai Expeditionary Force should be allowed to capture the vital city of Jiangyin, suggesting, perhaps overly optimistically, that its loss could lead to the fall of Chiang Kai-shek. Ultimately, Muto insisted, Nanjing should also be seized, which he asserted would bring an end to the war. Kawabe listened patiently, a practice he would repeat in the following days as other field officers echoed similar sentiments, eagerly expressing their desire to advance all the way to Nanjing. Yanagawa and his 10th Army exemplified this aggressive mindset. Nevertheless, just as the hawks within the Japanese military and the nation's political leadership appeared to be prevailing in the struggle over China policy, they faced unexpected challenges from a different direction. Germany, a power with ambiguous sympathies in East Asia, was quietly engaged in negotiations aimed at bringing peace. Oskar Trautmann, Germany's ambassador to China, had maintained an objective and neutral stance when he met with Chiang Kai-shek in early November to relay Japan's conditions for initiating peace talks. These conditions included extensive concessions in northern China, such as the withdrawal of all Chinese troops to a line south of Beijing and the establishment of a pro-Japanese regime in Inner Mongolia, bordering the Soviet-controlled Mongolian People's Republic. Chiang dismissed these demands outright, but Trautmann and his superiors in Beijing continued their top-secret efforts. Germany's motivation for seeking an end to the Sino-Japanese War was not rooted in a genuine love for peace, but rather in their embarrassment over witnessing their old Asian ally, China, fighting against their new partner, Japan. Herman Göring, president of the Reichstag and a leading figure in the Nazi party, told a Chinese visitor, “China and Japan are both friends of Germany. The Sino-Japanese War has put Germany between Scylla and Charybdis. That's why Germany is ready to seize the chance to become a mediator.” Germany also feared that a prolonged conflict in China could jeopardize its commercial interests in East Asia and weaken Japan's capacity to confront the Soviet Union, potentially freeing Moscow to allocate more resources to a fight in Europe. In essence, continued hostilities could significantly harm Germany. Japanese field commanders were frustrated by Germany's mediation efforts.  When news of Trautmann's mission leaked, the German diplomat faced severe criticism in the Chinese media, which deemed any negotiation with the "Japanese devils" unacceptable. Additionally, there was the matter of China's ties with the Soviet Union; employing a German mediator raised the possibility of cooperation among China, Japan, and Germany, potentially expanding the anti-Soviet bloc, which would, in turn, pressure Moscow to increase its support for China. By mid-November, however, the complexities of this diplomatic game started unraveling and then Japan took action. At 7:00 am on November 19, Yanagawa issued instructions to his troops in the field. “The enemy's command system is in disarray, and a mood of defeat has descended over their entire army. They have lost the will to fight. The main Chinese forces were retreating west of the line stretching from Suzhou to Jiaxing, and this withdrawal was soon likely to spiral into a full-scale retreat. We must not miss the opportunity to pursue the enemy to Nanjing.” I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Shanghai had fallen, and the Japanese forces pursued their fleeing enemy further west. However they had orders to halt, but would they? Officers from top down deliberating on the issue, with the vast majority pushing for a drive to Nanjing. They thought it represented the end objective of the conflict. They would all be very wrong. 

EP289 Kaila Yu is on the Mount Rushmore of Asian American models and influencers from the early 2000's. She joined the show to talk about her new book Fetishized (available August 19, 2025) and also share her thoughts about the modern culture and the historical media exploitation of Asian women. From Kaila's website https://kailayu.com/ : Kaila is an author based in Los Angeles. Her debut memoir, ‘Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty,' will be published on August 19th, 2025, with Penguin Random House's Crown Publishing.She is also a luxury travel, food, and culture writer and on-camera correspondent based in Los Angeles, who has written for The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, and more. She's a certified PADI scuba diver, freediver, and mermaid.Her former band, Nylon Pink, has toured in Australia: Melbourne and Sydney, played in Shanghai at the launch party for Havaianas in China, Costa Rica, played at the Hard Rock in Tokyo, Japan, Macau, China, and Penang, Malaysia.You can follow Kaila on all her social media accounts as just @KailaYuLinks from episode: Man Accused of Killing 8 in Atlanta Pleads Guilty https://www.npr.org/2021/07/27/1021144933/georgia-man-pleading-guilty-to-4-of-8-atlanta-area-spa-killingsRemembering the victims of Atlanta Spa Shootinghttps://people.com/crime/victims-of-atlanta-spa-shootings/Jeremy Lin, Knicks top NBA jersey saleshttps://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/11845/jeremy-lin-knicks-top-nba-jersey-salesThe Dangerous Privilege of Yellow Feverhttps://www.newsweek.com/dangerous-privilege-yellow-fever-opinion-1577449Main Show Sponsors:Right Honda:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://righthonda.com/Right Toyota: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.righttoyota.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arcus Foundry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://arcusfoundry.comAutocannon Official Gear: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.autocannon.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Hard Parking with Jhae Pfenning:email: Info@HardParking.com Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.Hardparking.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/hardparkingpodcast/Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/hardparkingpod/YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@HardParking

Opening line observations for UFC Fight Night Shanghai Mingyang vs. Walker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial intelligence has been a frequent topic on Sinica in recent years — but usually through the lens of the two countries that have produced the leading models and companies: the United States and China. We've covered generative AI, national strategies, governance frameworks, and the geopolitical implications of AI leadership.This webinar, broadcast on the morning of August 14, broadens that lens to explore how other countries — and especially Ukraine — are approaching AI in the public sector. Around the world, governments are experimenting with AI well beyond chatbots and text generation: China's “City Brain” optimizes traffic, energy use, and public safety; U.S. agencies are streamlining services and automating benefits processing; and elsewhere, smart grids, predictive infrastructure planning, and AI-enabled e-governance are reshaping public administration. These projects reveal both the promise and the complexity of bringing AI into government — along with valid concerns over privacy, fairness, and inclusiveness.We'll look at what lessons Ukraine might draw from U.S. and Chinese experiences, the opportunities and challenges of adapting these practices, and the strategic risks of sourcing AI solutions from different providers — especially in the context of Ukraine's eventual postwar reconstruction.Joining us are three distinguished guests:Dmytro Yefremov, Board Member of the Ukrainian Association of Sinologists, with deep expertise in China's political and technological strategies and Ukraine's policy landscape.Wang Guan, Chairman of Learnable.ai in China, bringing extensive experience in AI applications for public administration and education.Karman Lucero, Associate Research Scholar and Senior Fellow at Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center, whose work focuses on Chinese law, governance, and the regulation of emerging technologies.Thanks to the Ukrainian Platform for Contemporary China, the Ukrainian Association of Sinologists, and the Center for Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill for organizing and sponsoring today's event. Special thanks to Vita Golod for putting together the panel and inviting me to moderate.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1121: We cover the rapid growth in EV charging infrastructure even as EV sales plateau, Tesla's China-only 500+ mile Model 3, and a solar-powered drone that just stayed airborne for 74 hours without a drop of fuel.Show Notes with links:EV sales brace for slump, but charging networks surge ahead with automaker supportDespite challenges in EV sales, the U.S. fast-charging network is rapidly expanding and may actually meet infrastructure goals—whether or not EV adoption keeps pace.The U.S. hit nearly 60,000 fast-charging ports in Q2 and is on track for 19% growth in 2025.Private investment, not government aid, is fueling most of this growth as NEVI funds stall, with new players like Ionna and Mercedes-Benz expanding fastTesla dominates with 54% market share; Electrify America and ChargePoint trail at under 8%.“There will be more choice, more infrastructure and, hopefully, better experiences for EV drivers,” said Loren McDonald, chief analyst at Paren.This comes as U.S. EV registrations rose 4.6% in June, but EV market share slipped to 8.6%—down from 8.8% last year—signaling a stagnant market.Tesla's registrations dropped 6%, while GM surged with Chevrolet up 152% and Cadillac up 87%, showing shifting momentum among major players.Tesla has quietly introduced its longest-range Model 3 to date, the "Model 3 Plus," capable of up to 515 miles—but only for the Chinese market, for now.The 830 km (CLTC-rated) Model 3 Plus uses a more powerful 225 kW motor and LG-supplied lithium-ion batteries.It achieves long range with just a 78.4 kWh battery thanks to efficiency gains, not just capacity.Tesla aims to compete directly with high-range local EVs like the Xiaomi SU7 and is expected to launch the model in China by September with a price just under $38K.“This effectively shatters the 700 km psychological ceiling,” said Shanghai-based analyst Li Wei.Aviation startup Skydweller Aero just pulled off a wild feat: flying a solar-powered drone for 74 hours straight—twice—without touching down or using a drop of fuel.The drone has a wingspan larger than a Boeing 747 and runs solely on solar power and batteries.Its 17,000 solar cells power flight by day and charge 1,400 pounds of onboard batteries to keep flying at night.Recent Navy tests suggest big military potential in anti-piracy, smuggling patrols, and backup GPS missions.Skydweller also has commercial ambitions, including remote internet delivery and environmental monitoring.“There's a lot of money to be made in something that never touches the ground,” the company noted.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Send us a textOur Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/HockeyCardsGongshowOn this episode of the Hockey Cards Gongshow podcast we start with Get To Know Your Hockey Hall of Famers, this time looking at the life, hockey career, and hobby market for hockey hall of famer, Tom Hooper (9:52). Enzo Ferrari from Private Collection Insurance joins the show to chat about the good, the bad, and the ugly he saw at The National and how to best protect your valuable cards while at shows (19:52).  In hobby news, 5 GOATs + 1 piece of paper, The National sets attendance records, and a massive pre-war hockey auction sets records (1:18:41). MOJO Fest's David Chau joins the show to talk about their upcoming collector's convention & experience in Shanghai, China.  Plus, we talk about the growth opportunity for the hockey hobby in China (1:29:59).  In new product releases, we review the latest Upper Deck hockey release calendar to see what's coming next (2:13:18).  As always, we end the show with personal pickups (2:20:35).Partners & SponsorsHockeyChecklists.com - https://www.hockeychecklists.comSlab Sharks Consignment - http://bit.ly/3GUvsxNSlab Sharks is now accepting U.S. submissions!MINTINK - https://www.mintink.caPSA - https://www.psacard.comGP Sports Cards - https://gpsportcards.com/Private Collection Insurance - https://privatecollectioninsurance.comPather Ultimate HoldersShop USA - https://shoppather.com/Shop Canada - https://shoppather.ca/Sign up for Card Ladder - https://app.cardladder.com/signup?via=HCGongshoFollow Hockey Cards Gongshow on social mediaInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/hockey_cards_gongshow/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@hockey_cards_gongshowFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/HockeyCardsGongshowTwitter - https://twitter.com/HCGongshowThe Hockey Cards Gongshow podcast is a production of Dollar Box Ventures LLC

Dealmaking between Western and Chinese biopharmas has been one of the year's bright spots, as a maturing biotech landscape in China converges with Western demand for innovative assets, driving record deal flow. At the same time, the Hong Kong stock exchange has emerged as the hottest market for biotech IPOs, at a time when the NASDAQ window remains shut.These themes will be in the spotlight at the 12th BioCentury-BayHelix China Healthcare Summit Oct. 22-24 in Shanghai. On this special edition of the BioCentury This Week podcast, a trio of biopharma leaders join BioCentury's analysts to discuss the landscape: McKinsey's Franck Le Deu, former BD executive Ji Li, and HBM Holdings' Mike Patten.BioCentury, BayHelix and Insights Partner McKinsey & Company invite you to visit Shanghai for the 12th China Healthcare Summit at the St. Regis Shanghai Jingan. For more information, click here; to apply to join the 2025 Class of Presenting Companies click here. View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/656773#ChinaBiotech #CrossBorderDeals #HongKongIPO #BiotechInvesting #LifeSciencesFinance00:00 - Introduction02:09 – Key Trends06:03 – View from McKinsey13:36 – Evolution of Deal Landscape20:24 – Learning from China24:00 – China-China M&A & NewCosTo submit a question to BioCentury's editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at podcasts@biocentury.com.Reach us by sending a text

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says more than $5 billion in credit will go to companies which face 50 per cent tariffs to export goods to the US. The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, says a controversial deal that the White House struck with chipmakers Nvidia and AMD, handing over 15% of their Chinese sales in return for export licences, could be rolled out to other industries. Startup companies in the US have started a no-shoes-in-the-office policy, meaning that you take your shoes off when you come into the office and wear optional slippers.Throughout the programme, Leanna Byrne will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world – Diane Brady, Executive Editorial Director at Fortune magazine in New York, and Han-Shen Lin, China Country Director, The Asia Group, in Shanghai.

Dean and Justin came by to talk about the Ecological jiujitsu or the Constraints Led Approach movement. We also talk a bit about new technologies in which people are measuring what is going on in their bodies.

Guest: Howard W. French is a professor of journalism at Columbia University and former New York Times bureau chief in the Caribbean and Central America, West and Central Africa, Tokyo, and Shanghai. He is the author of the book Born in Blackness: Africa, Africans, and the Making of the Modern World, 1471 to the Second World War. The post Africa and the Making of the Modern World appeared first on KPFA.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Finding Love and Inspiration: Mei's Photographic Journey Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-08-13-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 梅喜欢摄影，她常常拿着相机到外面拍照。En: Mei loves photography, and she often takes her camera outside to take pictures.Zh: 但是，她总觉得自己的作品不够好。En: However, she always feels her work isn't good enough.Zh: 这是一个夏天的下午，阳光明媚。梅决定要去外滩寻找灵感。En: One sunny summer afternoon, Mei decided to go to the Bund to seek inspiration.Zh: 外滩是上海有名的地方，可以看到美丽的天际线。En: the Bund is a famous place in Shanghai, where you can see a beautiful skyline.Zh: 梅希望能拍出一组展现现代上海魅力的照片。En: Mei hoped to capture a collection of photos that showcases the charm of modern Shanghai.Zh: 梅到达外滩时，看到了很多人。En: When Mei arrived at the Bund, she saw many people.Zh: 她把相机挂在脖子上，自信地走进人群中。En: She hung the camera around her neck and confidently walked into the crowd.Zh: 她的好朋友小花一直鼓励她大胆尝试，En: Her good friend Xiaohua always encouraged her to try boldly.Zh: 小花说：“今天你一定会有不同的收获！”En: Xiaohua said, "Today you will surely have different benefits!"Zh: 就在这个时候，梅注意到一个男孩也在拍照。En: Just then, Mei noticed a boy also taking photos.Zh: 他叫李军，是一位充满魅力的导游。En: His name was Li Jun, a charming tour guide.Zh: 他不时地和游客交谈，给他们讲上海的故事。En: He was chatting with tourists from time to time, telling them stories of Shanghai.Zh: 李军的梦想是用电影讲述上海的精彩。En: Li Jun's dream was to tell the wonders of Shanghai through film.Zh: 他也和梅有同样的烦恼，想追求梦想却需要生活。En: He also shared Mei's concern of pursuing dreams while needing to make a living.Zh: 李军看到了梅，他微笑着走过去说：“你的相机会拍出什么美好瞬间呢？”En: Li Jun saw Mei, and smiling, he walked over and said, "What beautiful moments will your camera capture?"Zh: 梅脸微微一红，回答：“我想拍出展现上海活力的照片。”En: Mei's face reddened slightly, and she replied, "I want to capture photos that showcase Shanghai's vitality."Zh: 之后，两人很快聊起了摄影和对上海的热爱。En: Afterward, the two quickly started chatting about photography and their love for Shanghai.Zh: 李军邀请梅参加一个摄影聚会，这是小花介绍给她的。En: Li Jun invited Mei to a photography gathering that Xiaohua had introduced to her.Zh: 梅犹豫了一下，想起自己内心的害怕，但最后决定尝试。En: Mei hesitated, recalling her inner fears, but finally decided to give it a try.Zh: 几周后，七夕节到了。En: A few weeks later, the Qixi Festival arrived.Zh: 梅和李军在外滩合作一个摄影项目。En: Mei and Li Jun collaborated on a photography project at the Bund.Zh: 他们一起捕捉城市的美丽瞬间，不知不觉中，他们之间的互动加深了对彼此的了解。En: They captured the city's beautiful moments together, and unwittingly, their interactions deepened their understanding of each other.Zh: 在这次合作中，梅发现了从未有过的自信。En: Through this collaboration, Mei discovered a confidence she had never had before.Zh: 而李军也决定把更多时间放在自己的创作上，En: And Li Jun decided to dedicate more time to his own creative projects.Zh: 他们的梦想和努力让他们更接近彼此。En: Their dreams and efforts brought them closer to each other.Zh: 最后，梅的照片系列受到很多人的喜爱和认可，她心中的喜悦无以言表。En: In the end, Mei's photo series was loved and recognized by many, and the joy in her heart was beyond words.Zh: 故事的结尾是，梅和李军开始了新的恋情，两人在工作中也各自找到了新的灵感。En: The story concludes with Mei and Li Jun starting a new relationship, each finding new inspiration in their work.Zh: 他们相互支持，一同成长，梅变得更加自信，李军也更加专注于自己的创意梦想。En: They support each other and grow together; Mei became more confident, and Li Jun focused more on his creative dreams.Zh: 在上海的夜空下，他们的故事才刚刚开始。En: Under the night sky of Shanghai, their story has just begun. Vocabulary Words:photography: 摄影capture: 捕捉confidence: 自信charm: 魅力inspiration: 灵感vitality: 活力reconcile: 和解collaborate: 合作interaction: 互动recognize: 认可acquire: 获得dedicate: 奉献creative: 创意reflection: 反思translate: 翻译showcase: 展示pursue: 追求moment: 瞬间unwittingly: 不知不觉tourist: 游客encourage: 鼓励hesitate: 犹豫dream: 梦想project: 项目dedicate: 奉献series: 系列beyond: 超越support: 支持growth: 成长festival: 节日

Join me for a conversation with four fantastic panelists about nuclear safety and security issues brought on by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and more broadly on the state of nuclear security globally during this era of dramatic change.This program was made possible by the Ukrainian Platform for Contemporary China and the Center for Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.Nickolas Roth is Senior Director for Nuclear Materials Security at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI). Nickolas works at the intersection of arms control, risk reduction, and institutional resilience, and previously directed nuclear security work at the Stimson Center and contributed to Harvard's Project on Managing the Atom.Mariana Budjeryn is a Senior Research Associate with Managing the Atom at Harvard's Belfer Center and author of Inheriting the Bomb, a definitive study of Ukraine's post-Soviet disarmament and the limits of the Budapest Memorandum. Her scholarship grounds today's debates about guarantees, coercion, and nuclear restraint.Pan Yanliang is a Research Associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). He studies the Russian and Chinese nuclear industries and the nuclear fuel cycle, and works on CNS engagement with Chinese counterparts—giving him a distinctive cross-regional vantage.Lily Wojtowicz is a Research Fellow at the Hertie School (Berlin) and a USIP–Minerva Peace & Security Scholar, whose work focuses on extended deterrence credibility, European security, and alliance adaptation under great-power rivalry.5:19 - The Gap Between Coercive Rhetoric and First-use Thresholds11:26 - The Implication of Ukraine's allies regarding weapons 17:26 - Golden Dome21:30 - China's Position on Nuclear Weapons29:25 - How Belarus Altered European Debates 31:13 - Civilian Nuclear Power 38:32 - North Korea's Support for Russia40:59 - Beijing on NATO and Asian Security43:09 - Europe's Reaction to Nuclear Risk45:44 - Nuclear Risk in the Russia-Ukraine War52:56 - Trump's Impact on Kremlin Nuclear Thinking1:01:52 - US-China Nuclear Relations1:04:49 - Ukraine's Nuclear DisarmamentSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textThis episode features Gavin Pratt, Senior Director of Strength & Conditioning at the UFC Performance Institute. Gavin leads the global physical development of elite MMA athletes across the UFC PI's programs in Las Vegas, Shanghai, and Mexico City.With a Master's in Exercise Science (MExSc) in Strength & Conditioning, Level 3 ASCA Elite Coach status, and over 25 years of experience, Gavin has forged an unconventional path to the top of his profession—and his journey is as inspiring as it is unique. Please enjoy this episode.If you liked this EP, please take the time to rate and comment, share with a friend, and connect with us on social channels IG @Kingopain, TW @BuiltbyScott, LI+FB Scott Livingston. You can find all things LYM at www.LYMLab.com, download your free Life Lab Starter Kit today and get busy living https://lymlab.com/free-lym-lab-starter/Please take the time to visit and connect with our sponsors, they are an essential part of our success:www.ReconditioningHQ.comwww.FreePainGuide.com

Qin Sun Stubis is a newspaper columnist, poet, and author of the award-winning historical saga, Once Our Lives, the remarkable true story of four generations of Chinese women who struggled to survive war, revolution, and the eerie power of an ancient superstition that seemed to change their lives for nearly 100 years.Born in the squalor of a Shanghai shantytown, Qin overcame poverty, starvation, and the political persecution of her family to win admission to a prestigious Chinese university and emigrate to the United States where she became a successful writer. With more than 200 published works, she strives to strengthen the bonds of understanding and humanity that connect us all. Qin writes beautifully and movingly about her family and their struggles to endure extraordinarily difficult conditions. I highly urge you to check out Once Our Lives. www.QinSunStubis.com

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order extending tariffs on China for another 90 days. Chip giants Nvidia and AMD have agreed to pay the US government 15% of Chinese revenues as part of an "unprecedented" deal to secure export licences to China. And remember that distinctive sound of dialling in via the internet in the early days of connecting? Well. It's days are numbered….Yahoo has announced that it will discontinue AOL Dial-up Internet on September 30th.Throughout the programme, Rahul Tandon will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Jennifer Pak who is China Correspondent for American Public Media, based in Shanghai; and Allie Garfinkle, Senior finance reporter at Fortune who's in the US.

Last time we spoke about the 800 heroes who defended the Sihang Warehouse. In the fall of Shanghai during October 1937, amidst overwhelming odds, a small battalion under Colonel Xie Jinyuan took a stand inside the Sihang Warehouse, transforming it into a fortress against the invading Japanese army. As word spread of their stand, local citizens rallied, providing vital supplies and cheers of encouragement from across the Suzhou Creek. The defenders, dubbed the "800 Heroes," symbolized hope and determination. Despite suffering heavy casualties, they held firm, embodying the spirit of resistance against aggression. As dawn broke on November 1, 1937, a strategic retreat was ordered, allowing Xie's remaining troops to escape safely into the International Settlement. Their legacy endured, highlighting the courage of those who fought against overwhelming odds. The saga of the "800 Heroes" became a beacon of hope for future generations, immortalizing their determination to protect their homeland during one of its darkest hours.   #162 The Battle of Shanghai #7: The Fall of Shanghai Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. The fall of the Sihang Warehouse and withdrawal from Zhabei and Jiangwan doomed the Chinese defense of Shanghai. The army shifted to a fortified defensive line along the southern bank of Suzhou Creek, extending north towards the city of Nanxiang. Suzhou Creek provided an advantageous defensive position, acting as a natural barrier measuring up to 150 feet wide, with steep banks rising seven feet on either side. However, once this line was abandoned, there would be no fallback position remaining. Losing control of Suzhou Creek would be the loss of Shanghai. As German advisor Borchardt noted, “the Chinese command was therefore putting all its efforts into holding the position for as long as possible, without risking the annihilation of units crucial for continuing the war.” The Japanese planned their main assault directly south across Suzhou Creek to encircle the troops stationed in Shanghai. However, they first needed to create sufficient space for maneuvering. To achieve this and to secure their right flank, they launched a significant attack on Nanxiang on October 28, advancing along the railway from Shanghai. With the benefit of extensive support from aircraft and artillery, the Japanese were able to breach the Chinese frontline with relative ease. Nevertheless, they failed to capture Nanxiang, and the outcome was less of a victory than it initially appeared, as the Chinese had established a robust defense, preparing a two-mile stretch of obstacles and barriers east of the city. In a subsequent advance that shifted to the south, the Japanese engaged in a brief battle before seizing the town of Zhenru, which was strategically important due to its radio station that facilitated much of Shanghai's telephone and telegraphic communications with the outside world. In preparation for crossing Suzhou Creek, the Japanese had spent several days assembling a small fleet of vessels commandeered from Shanghai's civilian population, which included motorboats, sampans, and basic bamboo barges. On October 31, the 3rd Japanese Infantry Division, positioned at the eastern end of the Suzhou Creek front, initiated several crossings. During one of these attacks in the late afternoon near the village of Zhoujiaqiao, Japanese soldiers managed to reach the southern bank but were immediately met with enfilading fire from Chinese machine guns, resulting in significant casualties. They also faced counterattacks from Chinese reserves, who had been quickly summoned to neutralize the threat. Despite these challenges, the Japanese were able to maintain a narrow foothold. A parallel attempt by the same division further downstream, closer to the International Settlement, ended in failure, despite the evident superiority of Japanese equipment. Engineers deployed a mile-long smokescreen across the creek, while a dozen three-engine bombers, protected by fighter planes, hovered over the battlefield, actively scouting for targets. Although a small landing party successfully crossed the creek, they were quickly met with a fierce artillery barrage, and a Chinese counterattack forced them back into the water. Foreign military observers speculated that this operation was more a reconnaissance mission than a serious attempt to cross in that sector, as engaging in battle so close to the International Settlement would have required operations in heavily built-up areas. On November 1, three battalions of the 9th Japanese Division attacked in small boats across Suzhou Creek at the point where the Chinese frontline bent northward, successfully establishing a bridgehead on the other side. Over the next two days, the division managed to deploy a substantial number of troops across, eventually controlling an area that stretched about half a mile along the south bank of the creek. The following day, the Chinese launched a determined effort to eliminate this growing threat. While they made significant gains, they ultimately failed to eradicate the Japanese landing party, partly due to their inability to fully utilize their considerable artillery resources. At the beginning of the day's battle, just 60 feet separated the trenches of the opposing forces, meaning any barrage aimed at the Japanese was equally likely to hit Chinese lines. At dawn on November 3rd, the exhausted Tax Police Division were taking horrible losses trying to hold the Japanese back. Men began to scream “poison gas” as white clouds drifted across the Suzhou creek towards their trenches. Despite this the Japanese had not managed to carve out a bridgehead, but did built a pontoon bridge and sent a small force over to occupy a two story building near the bank, designated as “the red house”. Huang Jie, commander of the Tax Police Division, was a nervous wreck, feeling overwhelmed by fatalism after Chiang Kai-shek threatened to court-martial any officer who permitted the Japanese to cross to the southern bank of the creek. The appearance of an ominous cloud was the final straw. Although the cloud was later confirmed to be just a smoke screen and not poisonous gas, Huang was already defeated. With another Japanese assault imminent, he felt incapable of leading the defense. “It's over. It's all over,” he said matter-of-factly, raising his sidearm to his temple. Nearby, senior officer Sun Liren intervened, urging him, “General, please go back. We'll take care of this.” The battle continued until 4:00 p.m., but the battalion that faced the brunt of the Japanese onslaught had disintegrated. Its commander was dead, along with all but one company commander and over half of the platoon leaders. Of the original 600 men, only 200 remained. This was not what the Tax Police Division had anticipated when they were pulled from the area south of Wusong Creek the previous month; they believed the strong defenses at Dachang could hold for at least a month or two, providing sufficient time for the exhausted troops in the rear to recover. On the evening of November 3, following the latest Japanese attempt to cross the creek, the Tax Police Division's commander ordered Sun Liren to rest. However, Sun felt the need to complete one last task: destroying the pontoon bridge the Japanese had constructed across Suzhou Creek, which remained largely intact despite repeated Chinese efforts to demolish it. Previous attempts, including frontal attacks and sending swimmers downstream with explosives, had failed. Finally, they prepared large rolls of cotton soaked in gasoline to roll downhill toward the bridge, but these efforts were halted by Japanese barbed wire. For his final attempt, Sun requisitioned sea mines to float them downstream and detonate them near the bridge. To ensure the success of this plan, he required the cooperation of engineers. Unfortunately, the engineers he ordered for the late-night mission had not been trained by him, and despite being of lower rank, they were disinclined to put in extra effort for an unfamiliar officer. They worked slowly, and by dawn, the mines had yet to be pushed into the water. In the early morning light, they became visible targets along the bank, attracting Japanese fire. Sun was hit, but he was among the fortunate; later, soldiers from the Tax Police Division found him beneath a pile of dead bodies, with doctors later discovering 13 bullet wounds in his body. His participation in the battle of Shanghai had come to an end. According to German advisors, the Chinese repeatedly made the same mistake in the struggle for Suzhou Creek: a lack of independent thinking among junior Chinese commanders prevented them from reacting aggressively to Japanese crossings. This delay allowed the Japanese to entrench themselves, and subsequent Chinese counterattacks often succeeded only after several costly failures. Moreover, Chinese artillery lacked the flexibility to adapt quickly and lacked training in selecting the appropriate ordnance for the situation. The Germans argued that this allowed the enemy “sufficient time to set up a good defense,” and even when later Chinese attacks achieved some significant successes, they failed to completely annihilate the enemy forces that had crossed the creek. Conversely, the Japanese were also frustrated, particularly their commander, Matsui Iwane. Although the 9th Division had made significant advances, the 3rd Division remained confined to a narrow strip of land south of the creek, thwarting hopes for a quick, decisive push southeast to trap the remaining troops in Shanghai and Pudong. On November 3, the birthday of Emperor Meiji, who was instrumental in modernizing Japan, Matsui reflected on his initial hopes of celebrating as the conqueror of Shanghai. Instead, he found himself disappointed, writing, “Now we've finally won a small piece of land south of Suzhou Creek, but the south of Shanghai and all of Pudong remains in enemy hands. That the festival is happening under conditions such as these is a source of boundless humiliation.” Japanese planners in Tokyo had been increasingly concerned that operations in the Shanghai area were not progressing as anticipated since the troop deployments began in August. Despite sending three additional divisions, the advances remained limited, prompting the Army General Staff to consider a more fundamental strategic shift in China. The core question revolved around whether to prioritize the northern campaign or the battles around Shanghai, as Japan lacked the resources to effectively pursue both. In early October, Japanese officers concluded that addressing the situation in Shanghai must take precedence. A large reason for this decision rested on fears of a potential soviet attack in the northeast before the New Year. With so many divisions stuck in Shanghai Manchukuo was quite vulnerable. On October 9, the Army General Staff established the 10th Army, specifically designed to shift the balance in Shanghai. This new force included the 6th Infantry Division, currently deployed in northern China, a brigade from the 5th Infantry Division known as the Kunizaki Detachment, and the 18th and 114th Infantry Divisions from the home islands. Command of the 10th Army was entrusted to General Yanagawa Heisuke, a 58-year-old veteran of the Russo-Japanese War who had recently retired but was recalled to service due to his suitability for the role; he had previously served as a military attaché in Beijing and as an instructor at the city's army college. The 10th Army was to be landed behind Chinese lines. There were two possible landing sites: the south bank of the Yangtze River, where earlier landings had occurred in late August, or the north bank of Hangzhou Bay. Hangzhou Bay provided the element of surprise thus it was selected. However when reconnaissance was performed, the area was found to be heavily fortified with many terrain issues that would complicate logistics. Matsui Iwane expressed his concerns in his diary, noting, “It would probably be much easier if they landed on the banks of the Huangpu and Yangtze Rivers. This plan gives me the impression of a bunch of young people at play”. The 10th Army was set to land before dawn on November 5. The Kunizaki Detachment would lead the assault, capturing a stretch of coastline east of Jinshanwei in the middle of the night. This would be followed by the 6th Division, with the 18th Division on its right flank and the 114th Division on its left. All units were to advance briskly north to the Huangpu River and cross it. A major objective north of the river was the city of Songjiang, a key transportation hub for both rail and road. Ultimately, the goal was to link up with Japanese units advancing south in the flat countryside west of Shanghai to encircle as many Chinese soldiers as possible. Secrecy was vital for the 10th Army in its preparations. The commanders recalled an old saying: “If you want to cheat the enemy, first you must fool your own men,” and decided to adhere to it. To mislead their forces before the embarkation of the 6th Division, they distributed maps of Qingdao, a northern Chinese port city, to create the illusion that it was the operation's target. This way, if any information leaked, it would mislead the recipient. On November 1, the convoy carrying the 6th Division departed the waters off the Korean Peninsula, heading south. The following day, it merged with another convoy transporting the 18th and 114th Divisions from Japan. Together, they formed a substantial fleet of nearly 200 vessels, necessitating heightened caution to avoid detection. Strict orders prohibited the use of lights, and radio silence was enforced at all times. As the ships neared Shanghai, they sailed in a wide arc offshore, only redirecting toward land when they were aligned with Hangzhou Bay. Upon learning their true objective, the soldiers felt a mix of excitement and apprehension as they crowded the dark decks, catching sight of the vague silhouette of the continent they were about to conquer. The advance unit, the Kunizaki Detachment, boarded its landing craft as planned at 3:00 am on November 5, heading towards its designated section of the coastline. Meanwhile, the rest of the 10th Army waited anxiously aboard ships anchored two miles offshore. The silence from the shore indicated that the detachment had encountered no resistance, although the ongoing radio silence left uncertainty. Eventually, the detachment signaled with light projectors that the landing had gone as planned. With this confirmation, the soldiers of the second wave began their approach. The 10th Army had intended for the invasion force to move swiftly from the landing zone to secure the area before the Chinese could mount a counterattack. Each soldier was equipped with a week's supply of rice and as much ammunition as he could carry to avoid being hindered by a lengthy supply train; mobility was essential. On the first day of the landing, the Chinese launched only two minor counterattacks. One occurred on the left flank but failed to hinder the advance north, while the other on the right flank also had limited success, forcing the Chinese to retreat ahead of the advancing Japanese troops. By mid-morning on November 5, over 3,000 Japanese soldiers had successfully landed, and this number continued to rise rapidly. The urgency of the situation was evident, and only swift and decisive actions could offer the Chinese generals a chance to avert catastrophe. However, instead of mounting an all-out effort to push the Japanese back into the sea, they chose to play a waiting game. The consensus among the command center of the 3rd War Zone in Suzhou during the early hours was that the landing forces were weak and intended to distract from more critical operations planned for the near future. Enemy resistance was weak and sporadic, allowing the Japanese divisions to make rapid progress despite encountering natural obstacles along their route. By the evening of November 5, less than 24 hours after the initial unit landed, they had advanced three miles inland. Before noon the following day, they reached a ferry port on the Huangpu River, where a group of over 100 soldiers managed to cross, clearing the way for the continued push toward Songjiang. Meanwhile, the left flank of the Japanese landing force engaged in more intense fighting for the first time but still managed to gain ground. The Japanese momentum appeared unstoppable.In desperation, the Chinese resorted to scorched earth tactics reminiscent of the Napoleonic Wars, similar to their earlier actions in Zhabei. They destroyed every building and field, burned crops, killed livestock, and poisoned wells, leaving nothing for the victors. It was the local population that ultimately paid the price, witnessing their ancestral homes reduced to ashes.  Once the Chinese command was convinced that the invasion at Hangzhou Bay was a genuine main effort rather than a deceptive act, it directed all available forces south to contain the escalating threat. However, the Chinese had very few troops to spare. The Chinese dispatched a total of seven divisions and one independent brigade to the landing area. While this force appeared to be roughly twice the size of the Japanese, in reality, it was much weaker. Many of these units had endured extended battles and were not at full combat strength. They were sent south without adequate preparation, and their morale suffered due to the continuous stream of negative news from the front. Additionally, the same poor road network that hindered the Japanese slowed the Chinese reinforcements, resulting in many arriving too late to influence the conflict significantly. Once the opportunity to push the Japanese back into the sea was lost, the next best option was to halt their advance at the Huangpu River. Although this was a significant natural barrier, there were no fortifications prepared along its banks. Compounding the issue, a large number of civilian vessels were left on the south bank, providing the Japanese with an easy means of crossing. Confronted with a steady stream of better-equipped and experienced Japanese soldiers, many Chinese defenders occasionally retreated without a fight. In response to the threat from the south, the Chinese commanders repeated a costly mistake from previous crises: they deployed newly arrived troops in Shanghai directly into battle. This disregard for the exhausted condition of those troops, who had just completed a long trek from Henan province, left them ill-prepared for effective engagement. The 107th and 108th Divisions, part of the 67th Army, had only recently arrived in the Shanghai area when they were ordered on November 8 to move south to defend the strategic city of Songjiang at least until November 11. Though the commanders may have had no other choice but to deploy the 67th, the outcome was predictable. Despite their efforts to hold Songjiang, the two divisions could not stand against the Japanese, and by November 9, they had begun withdrawing from the nearly surrounded city. During the retreat, army commander Wu Keren was assassinated by a group of plainclothes men. Whether these were Japanese soldiers or local traitors hired for the task was never determined, making him the only general to lose his life in the entire Shanghai campaign. This setback rendered the 67th Army ineffective as a fighting force, leading to a complete retreat from the battlefield. Like many other lower-quality units in the Chinese military, the rank-and-file soldiers had never been encouraged to take the initiative, and the corps ultimately disintegrated after losing their commander. Amid the chaos and confusion at the landing zone, many Chinese officers concluded that the battle for Shanghai was lost and focused on salvaging whatever equipment they could before it was too late. On the morning of November 5, three artillery batteries stationed along the north shore of Hangzhou Bay attempted to resist the Japanese forces. As the Chinese front along Hangzhou Bay collapsed, even a successful retreat could be seen as a modest victory. Chiang Kai-shek was on the brink of a nervous breakdown as the full scale of the Japanese landing at Hangzhou Bay became evident. On the evening of November 5, he had over 20 anxious telephone conversations with Gu Zhutong, asking repeatedly, “Is there a fight?” Gu confirmed, “The artillery is bombarding us heavily. There are airplanes, warships.” That night, Chiang met with Chen Cheng and appeared to accept that it was time to abandon positions south of Suzhou Creek. However, political considerations prevented him from immediately communicating this decision to his commanders. He wished to see the Brussels Conference get underway without having China appear defeated and seemed to hope to hold out until November 13, aiming for a minor propaganda victory by demonstrating that China had endured for three months. On the night of November 8, Chiang issued a fateful command to Shanghai police chief Cai Jianjun, instructing him to hold Nanshi while the rest of the army withdrew west, a directive that sounded like a suicide mission. When Cai refused, Chiang's response was swift: “Shoot him.” Luckily for Cai, he escaped being shot.  The Chinese retreat from Shanghai commenced in an orderly manner. At 10:00 am on November 9, the last soldiers organized their march southwest past St. Ignatius Cathedral, where thousands of refugees waited, leaving the city they had defended for nearly three months. As they departed, they burned significant properties, including factories and coal yards, to deny the Japanese valuable resources. Among the structures targeted was the Toyoda Cotton Mills, a prominent symbol of Japan's influence in the Yangtze Delta. Initially, the withdrawal seemed disciplined, reminiscent of earlier successful withdrawals that had surprised the Japanese. However, the situation quickly deteriorated as the Japanese pursued them relentlessly. By noon, they had secured Hongqiao Airfield, the site of earlier conflict, and aimed to inflict maximum damage on the retreating Chinese army. Japanese planes launched attacks from carriers offshore, machine-gunning the congested roads filled with retreating soldiers. Additionally, they bombed bridges and train stations, destroyed communication lines, and shelled already weakened transportation networks. With communications largely disrupted and scattered units receiving no coordination, chaos ensued. Soldiers became consumed by the instinct for personal survival, leading to a disorganized stampede as panic spread. Desperate to escape, many soldiers tried to access designated foreign zones. Some forced their way across checkpoints at gunpoint, while others disguised themselves as civilians to gain entry. A foreign correspondent observed a Chinese soldier throw away his rifle and jump into the polluted Siccawei Creek, wading across in just his underwear, to escape Japanese capture. Similarly, senior officers realized that rank would not protect them from Japanese retribution. General Ye Zhao, retreating with his staff, donned peasant clothes after encountering an abandoned farmhouse and was later captured by the advancing Japanese, who mistook him for a common laborer. As the Japanese approached Nanshi, the mostly Chinese area of Shanghai, the situation grew dire. A group of individuals accused of spying for the Japanese was executed by firing squad in public view, sparking terror among onlookers. As the government prepared to evacuate, officials urged the remaining residents to continue resisting, warning against traitors.  The swift retreat of the Chinese Army shocked many Shanghai residents, who had believed the city could withstand the siege indefinitely. As the city fell in just a few hectic days, thousands of desperate civilians, burdened with their belongings, flocked to the bridges leading to the French Concession, pleading to be let in. However, they were met with hostility from French police, reinforced with tanks, who ordered them to turn away. When they resisted, local Chinese employees were forced to help drive them back, resulting in horrific scenes of violence. The New York Times correspondent Hallet Abend reported how the crowd was ruthlessly beaten back, with some falling into Siccawei Creek, where several drowned amid the chaos. Chinese resistance in Nanshi persisted, as pockets of soldiers were determined to make the conquest challenging for the Japanese. After three days of fighting, between 5,000 and 6,000 Chinese soldiers remained in Nanshi when the Japanese launched their final assault on the morning of November 11. They began a relentless artillery bombardment of the densely populated area. Foreign correspondents, including American journalist Edgar Snow, observed the battle from the French Concession across Siccawei Creek. Japanese tanks advanced cautiously through narrow streets, pausing to fire before retreating, while infantry moved carefully to avoid Chinese snipers hiding among the buildings. While most residents had fled, some civilians continued their daily lives amidst gunfire and explosions. An incident was reported where a group of Chinese were eating rice in a sampan when a machine gun opened fire, causing them to seek cover under the mat. The Japanese forces encountered familiar challenges as they advanced through Nanshi, struggling to set up pontoon bridges across canals, which slowed their progress. In a last stand visible to onlookers in the French Concession, the Chinese soldiers faced an unequal confrontation. The Japanese tanks fired upon them from only 60 yards away, and the defenders were subjected to intense air raids before being driven back. At a desperate moment, one Chinese soldier carried a wounded comrade across Siccawei Creek, dodging bullets, and received assistance from French guards. This encouraged more Chinese soldiers to cross into the French sector, surrendering their weapons to avoid certain death. They became internees, protected from the Japanese, although they felt betrayed by the circumstances that forced such a decision. Not all soldiers managed to escape in this manner; some relocated to a new position closer to the southern edge of the French Concession, near a water tower. This location offered even less protection than their previous one and quickly turned into a deadly encounter. Realizing they were losing, the Chinese troops fled toward the French sector, abandoning their equipment and weapons as they scrambled over barbed wire. The French commander commended their bravery and assured them they would not be returned to the Japanese. As the battle across Siccawei Creek drew to a close, victorious Japanese troops swept through the remaining unoccupied streets of Chinese Shanghai, eliminating the last pockets of resistance. Similar to previous encounters in Zhabei, defenders attempted to set fire to buildings to leave little for the occupying army. Thick smoke billowed over the district, limiting visibility, so onlookers in the French Concession relied on sound to gauge the battle's progress. As gunfire waned, cheers of “Banzai!” filled the air. At 3:34 pm, the Rising Sun flag was raised over the last Chinese stronghold in Nanshi, officially marking the end of the battle of Shanghai. In a city ravaged by war, the district of Zhabei became the epicenter of destruction, resembling a bleak lunar landscape. The area around the North Train Station was devastated, with gutted buildings standing like rugged cliffs and the asphalt roads marred by deep fissures resembling earthquake damage. As Chinese officials prepared to leave Shanghai for Nanjing, they tried to present a positive narrative about the battle, emphasizing that the sacrifices made were not in vain. Mayor Yu proclaimed that the lessons learned in Shanghai during the past 90 days could benefit the entire nation in the war against Japanese aggression, instilling confidence in the people that victory would eventually come. He spoke as if the war was over in Shanghai, which was true in a sense, as the major conflict had concluded.  In late 1937, the Japanese believed they had achieved victory. On December 3, Matsui Iwane's army held a victory parade through the unoccupied International Settlement, a right they claimed as one of the governing powers. It was a serious miscalculation. Japanese civilians and ronin were recruited to act as rallying crowds, waving national flags, which triggered confrontations with foreign residents. The parade passed the Great World Amusement Center, where hundreds had died during "Black Saturday," prompting a Chinese man to leap from a building, declaring “Long Live China!” as he fell. As the parade continued down Nanjing Road, tensions grew among the accompanying police. Suddenly, a grenade was thrown from a window, injuring four Japanese soldiers and one British police officer. Matsui's veterans fanned out to apprehend the assailant, but it was a Chinese police officer who shot him dead. What was meant to be a triumph turned into a fiasco that confirmed the Japanese would struggle to secure even this small corner of China, let alone the vast territory of the country as a whole. The battle for Shanghai became the bloodiest international conflict in Asia since the Russo-Japanese War. By late October, the Japanese estimated that China had suffered 250,000 military losses in the fight for the city. In the months following the battle, Chinese sources reported casualties ranging from 187,200 to as high as 300,000. Regardless of the exact figure, the aftermath of the battle was catastrophic, severely impacting Chiang Kai-shek's best German-trained divisions. China faced a blow from which it would not recover until 1944, aided by significant American support. The high casualty rates stemmed from several factors. Many Chinese soldiers entered the battle expecting to sacrifice their lives, which led to a higher incidence of fatality due to their willingness to launch suicidal attacks against heavily fortified positions. Chinese tactics, which relied on numerical superiority to counter Japan's material advantages, essentially turned the conflict into a struggle of manpower against machinery. While this approach had a grim logic, it starkly contrasted with the reluctance of Chinese commanders to sacrifice valuable imported equipment. They were quick to expend their best divisions in intense fighting yet hesitated to utilize their key weaponry for fear of Japanese air raids. The elite 87th and 88th Divisions faced near depletion within days, while the Pudong artillery operated minimally over three months to avoid drawing enemy fire. One might question what Chiang Kai-shek achieved from such immense sacrifices. If his primary goal was to divert Japanese forces from the north, where they enjoyed easy victories, then the battle in Shanghai could be viewed as a success for China. As autumn 1937 progressed, Japanese commanders were increasingly forced to redirect their focus and resources to the more complex and tactically challenging terrain around Shanghai, where their technical superiority was less effective than on the northern plains. However, shifting the war to central China also posed risks, threatening the economic hub and political capital in Nanjing, ultimately resulting in a Japanese occupation that would last nearly eight years. If Chiang also wished to attract foreign attention, it is unclear how successful he was. The battle unfolded in front of thousands in the International Settlement and French Concession and garnered international media coverage, with many foreign correspondents arriving to report on the conflict. For three months, Shanghai dominated the front pages of major newspapers, and the Chinese effectively utilized propaganda to highlight events such as the desperate “Lost Battalions” fight in Zhabei. Yet, none of the major powers felt compelled to offer substantial support to China, and even the Brussels Conference failed to provide any useful assistance. Both Western powers and the Soviet Union were closely watching the conflict. Chiang hoped for Soviet support, and historical records suggest that Soviet diplomats encouraged him with vague assurances. China aimed to provoke Soviet entry into the war against Japan; however, the outcome may have been counterproductive. By engaging Japan, China effectively diminished the likelihood of a Japanese assault on the Soviet Union, as Japan needed to subdue China first. The Soviets eventually started providing material aid, including the arrival of nearly 300 Russian attack and bomber aircraft in mid-October, but this assistance was a poor substitute for a genuine ally. Additionally, while the Soviet Union emerged as a hesitant partner for China, China lost the substantial support it had previously received from Germany. The Germans played a crucial role in Shanghai during the 1937 conflict, with every major Chinese unit having at least one German advisor. Chiang Kai-shek's strategic decision to make a stand in Shanghai appears to have been significantly influenced by General Falkenhausen's opinions. Chiang had initially welcomed the German proposal to fight for Shanghai and was resolved to see it through, regardless of the cost to his troops. By 1938, German advisors began departing China, coinciding with the outbreak of war in Europe. Unfortunately, their experiences in China did not translate into lessons for their future military engagements, particularly regarding urban warfare, which might have been beneficial in battles such as Stalingrad during the winter of 1942–1943. Instead, they returned to more conventional military roles in Europe.  Despite enduring the most suffering in and around Shanghai during 1937, the battle proved to be far more costly for the Japanese than their commanders had anticipated. By November 8, Japanese military casualties totaled 9,115 dead and 31,257 injured. Although the Japanese forces enjoyed overwhelming advantages in artillery and air power, they could not compensate for their leaders' consistent underestimation of Chinese resilience and fighting spirit. The flow of reinforcements was disorganized, leading General Matsui and his commanders to feel they never had enough troops to achieve a swift and decisive victory. As the Shanghai battle neared its conclusion, Matsui became increasingly confident that he could inflict a blow on Chiang Kai-shek from which he would never recover. In an interview with a German reporter in late October, Matsui stated that after capturing Shanghai, the Japanese Army would march on to Nanjing if necessary. He had a keen political sense and believed it better to act independently than wait for orders from Tokyo, declaring, "Everything that is happening here is taking place under my entire responsibility." Without an aggressive general like Matsui, it's questionable whether the Japanese would have proceeded to Nanjing. Initially, they focused on pursuing retreating Chinese forces, a sound tactical decision that did not imply an expansive strategy to advance to Nanjing. However, after another surprise amphibious landing on November 13 on the south bank of the Yangtze River, the Japanese commanders felt positioned to push for Nanjing and bring the war to a conclusive end.  I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Thus with that the battle for Shanghai, known to some as China's Stalingrad had come to a brutal end. Chiang Kai-Shek gambled the cream of his army to gain international sympathy for his nation, but had it worked? Japan was taking the northeast, and now with Shanghai conquered, the path to Nanjing and unimaginable horror remained. 

Episode 192: In this episode of the Sports Performance Leadership Podcast, hosted by Pete McKnight, we speak with Duncan N. French, PhD, CSCS*D, RSCC*E, FUKSCA — Senior Vice President of the UFC Performance Institute and one of the most respected leaders in global high-performance sport. Since joining the UFC in 2017, Duncan has overseen the delivery of high-performance services to over 700 world-class MMA fighters worldwide, managing a multidisciplinary team of 68 professionals across three state-of-the-art UFC Performance Institutes in Las Vegas, Shanghai, and Mexico City. With over 25 years of experience in elite professional sport, Duncan's career spans coaching Olympic medalists, World Champions, world-record holders, and NCAA National Champions. His leadership journey has taken him from national lead roles in the British Olympic system and the English Premier League, to directing performance sciences at the University of Notre Dame, and now shaping the global performance strategy of the UFC. Alongside his practical leadership, Duncan is a prolific contributor to the field — with over 60 scientific manuscripts, 9 book chapters, and as lead editor of the NSCA's Essentials of Sport Science textbook. In 2014, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the UKSCA for his outstanding service to the strength and conditioning profession. Topics Discussed: Career Path — From British Olympic teams and Premier League football to NCAA and the UFC Leadership Evolution — Transitioning from technical expert to organisational leader Core Skills — Communication, influence, situational awareness, and emotional intelligence Building High-Performance Systems — Designing infrastructure and protocols from the ground up Leadership Models — Holacracy, situational leadership, and empowering teams Team Culture — Managing egos, fostering psychological safety, and leading with authenticity Personal Development — Staying technically sharp while reflecting on leadership behaviour Wellbeing — Strategies for sustaining energy, including surfing, meditation, and cold exposure Future Trends — The growing role of AI and technology alongside the enduring need for human connection This episode offers rare insight into building world-class performance environments, sustaining leadership impact at scale, and balancing technical expertise with human-first leadership in elite sport. Where you can find Duncan: LinkedIn X (Twitter) Instagram Google Scholar -  Sponsors VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training Hytro: The world's leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.  -  Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Alistair McKenzie Dylan Carmody Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight

On today's episode of Architectette we're chatting with fellow architect and podcaster, Catherine Meng, AIA. Catherine is an architect and project manager at DLR Group in San Francisco. She received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell University, and previously worked in both Shanghai and New York City. She has built a career designing and leading projects ranging from high-end single-family residences to multi-family housing, as well as workplace and commercial design. She is also the host and founder of the Design Voice Podcast which was active from 2018 through 2022. We talk about: - Catherine's unusual solution to finding work during the 2009 recession and how landing a job in China helped her to level up her CA experience and helped to boost her career once she returned to the US.- We also chat about the Design Voice Podcast; the importance of being intentional when making guest selections and insights she learned over 80 episodes.- We next reflect on her experiences balancing career growth with motherhood- what it was like to return after parental leave and how she successfully advocated for a workplace wellness room her office's renovation.- Most importantly, Catherine shares actionable strategies for cultivating mentorship. We talk about her mentors, how she plans for her career, and how she applies lessons learned from her mentors to her own role as a mentor to help elevate future leaders at her firm.____Links:Connect with Catherine: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinewmeng/Design Voice Podcast: https://www.designvoicepodcast.com/Connect with Architectette:- Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Learn more)- Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @architectette⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (See more)- Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Behind the Scenes Content)- LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Architectette Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Page and/or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Caitlin Brady⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support Architectette:- Leave us a rating and review!Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Que ce soit en France, au Japon, aux États-Unis... partout autour du globe, la question du métissage suscite le débat, voire déchaine les passions. Pourtant, nos sociétés sont de plus en plus cosmopolites. Au Brésil, par exemple, la population métisse est devenue majoritaire, selon les chiffres du dernier recensement publié en 2022. Quant au Québec, 5% des nouveau-nés avaient un parent natif du Canada et l'autre de l'étranger en 1980 ; cette statistique est passée à 12% en 2023, selon le bilan démographique du Québec. Avoir des origines multiples n'a donc plus rien d'exceptionnel, mais l'identité, l'appartenance n'en sont pas moins des sujets d'actualité. À la fois pour ceux qui demandent « tu viens d'où ? » et pour ceux à qui s'adresse la question. Le besoin de mettre son interlocuteur dans une case semble encore bien présent. Mais pourquoi s'intéresser aux origines de son voisin ? Par curiosité, pour comprendre la différence ou pour l'exclure ? Et comment vivre ses identités multiples quand on est métis ? Cette émission est une rediffusion du 7 avril 2025. Avec Maïka Sondarjee, professeure en Développement international et Mondialisation à l'Université d'Ottawa au Canada. Autrice de Tu viens d'où – réflexions sur le métissage et les frontières ? (Éditions Lux, 2025). En fin d'émission, ♦ un nouvel épisode de notre série Le succès des repats réalisée par Charlie Dupiot. Aujourd'hui, le portrait de Tisya Mukuna, le café à la mode kinoise. Ils et elles sont originaires d'Afrique centrale et ont décidé de rentrer chez eux... C'est le moment du « Succès des Repats » ! Tisya Mukuna 32 ans, est née à Kinshasa. Elle a suivi l'essentiel de sa scolarité en France, entre la Normandie et Paris où elle a fait une école de commerce. Après un master en négociation des affaires en Chine, à Shanghai, elle a travaillé chez Microsoft, pour des agences de publicité ou encore une succursale de magasin bio. Il y a six ans, Tysia Mukuna décide de rentrer en République démocratique du Congo pour lancer sa marque de café, « La Kinoise ». Notre reporter Charlie Dupiot l'a rencontrée chez elle à l'automne 2024, dans son appartement de Kinshasa. ♦ un reportage de Tom Malki qui s'est rendu à l'exposition Game Story à Versailles en banlieue parisienne. L'exposition retrace 70 ans d'histoire du jeu vidéo. Une plongée dans l'histoire du jeu vidéo. L'exposition Game Story qui se tient jusqu'au 16 avril à Versailles, à l'ouest de Paris, vous propose de découvrir la plus grande collection de jeux vidéo et de consoles d'Europe et d'y jouer ! De quoi ravir les enfants, mais aussi les plus nostalgiques. Reportage de Tom Malki. Programmation musicale : ► Jëli – Amadeus feat. Waly B. Seck ► Ils me rient tous au nez – Theodora.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Finding Family and Art: A Reunion at the Shanghai Art Museum Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-08-09-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 上海艺术博物馆的大厅中，参观者熙熙攘攘，墙上挂满了色彩斑斓的画作。En: In the atrium of the Shanghai Art Museum, visitors were bustling about, and the walls were adorned with vibrant paintings.Zh: 虽然外面是湿热的夏天，这里却是凉爽安逸的。En: While it was hot and humid outside in the summer, the inside was cool and peaceful.Zh: 李伟站在一幅油画前，心里有些紧张。En: Li Wei stood in front of an oil painting, feeling a bit nervous.Zh: 他的妹妹美正笑盈盈地招呼他，家人们在身后议论纷纷。En: His younger sister Mei was cheerfully calling out to him, and the family was chatting in the background.Zh: 这是他们久别重聚的日子，也是七夕节。En: This was the day of their long-awaited reunion, which coincided with the Qixi Festival.Zh: 李伟是一名年轻的艺术家。En: Li Wei is a young artist.Zh: 他总觉得和家人有些疏远，因为他们总希望他能找到一份稳定的工作。En: He always felt somewhat distant from his family because they always hoped he would find a stable job.Zh: 他很想和大家重新连接，但又害怕他们并不理解他的选择。En: He really wanted to reconnect with everyone, but he was afraid they wouldn't understand his choices.Zh: 张奶奶走过来，轻声问：“最近还好吗？En: Grandma Zhang came over and softly asked, "How have you been lately?Zh: 我们走走吧。En: Let's take a walk."Zh: ”李伟点点头，跟着她走进了一个安静的展厅。En: Li Wei nodded and followed her into a quiet exhibition hall.Zh: 墙上挂的画让李伟想起小时候和奶奶一起画画的时光，那时他就梦想成为一个画家。En: The paintings on the walls reminded him of the times he used to draw with his grandmother as a child, when he dreamed of becoming a painter.Zh: 走了一会儿，李伟停下脚步，说：“奶奶，我真的很热爱画画。En: After walking for a while, Li Wei stopped and said, "Grandma, I really love painting.Zh: 能给您看看我的画吗？En: Can I show you my paintings?"Zh: ”张奶奶微笑着点头。En: Grandma Zhang smiled and nodded.Zh: 李伟拿出手机，展示了一幅他用心创作的作品。En: Li Wei took out his phone and displayed one of his heartfelt creations.Zh: 经过短暂的沉默，张奶奶点头：“真不错。En: After a brief silence, Grandma Zhang nodded, "Very good.Zh: 我看到你用心去画，把你对生活的理解都画出来了。En: I can see that you put your heart into painting, expressing your understanding of life."Zh: ”李伟感到一丝轻松，但又有些惊讶。En: Li Wei felt a bit relieved but also surprised.Zh: 接下来的聚会中，家人们围着李伟，看他的作品。En: During the gathering that followed, the family gathered around Li Wei to look at his work.Zh: 他深吸一口气，把画作展示给他们。En: He took a deep breath and presented his paintings to them.Zh: 他不知道大家会有什么反应，却知道这是自己的机会。En: He wasn't sure how they would react, but he knew this was his opportunity.Zh: 出乎意料的是，张奶奶率先拍了拍手：“李伟，你很有才华。En: Unexpectedly, Grandma Zhang was the first to clap her hands, saying, "Li Wei, you are very talented.Zh: 我为你感到骄傲。En: I am proud of you."Zh: ”其他家人也纷纷赞同，称赞他的努力和天赋。En: Other family members also agreed, praising his effort and talent.Zh: 李伟心中升起一阵温暖。En: A warm feeling rose in Li Wei's heart.Zh: 他突然明白，即使家人们有不同的期望，他们仍然会支持和爱护他。En: He suddenly realized that even if his family had different expectations, they would still support and love him.Zh: 那天晚上，他走出博物馆时，比来时更加自信。En: That evening, as he left the museum, he was more confident than when he arrived.Zh: 他知道，这次的重聚，不仅让他找回了家人的支持，还让他相信，自己的选择并没有错。En: He knew that this reunion not only helped him regain his family's support but also made him believe that his choices were not wrong. Vocabulary Words:atrium: 大厅bustling: 熙熙攘攘adorned: 挂满vibrant: 色彩斑斓humid: 湿热reunion: 重聚coincided: 也是distant: 疏远stable: 稳定reconnect: 重新连接softly: 轻声exhibition: 展厅heartfelt: 用心creations: 创作silent: 沉默understanding: 理解relieved: 轻松gathering: 聚会praised: 称赞effort: 努力talent: 才华warm: 温暖expectations: 期望support: 支持opportunity: 机会confident: 自信choices: 选择realized: 明白proud: 骄傲artwork: 画作

The EAH team had the pleasure of hosting Audrey Ma of REFIRE, based in Shanghai. Tackling this currently controversial sector and geography seemed like a fitting end to Season 8, a difficult season for many of our guests in hydrogen and private markets generally. We get a chance to hear about the incredible progress in China in the hydrogen fuel cell and power mobility space, debunk some of the mythology around free flowing subsidies, and of course it wouldn't be this trio without a few ambling detours and off piste discussions. About Audrey Ma:Based in Shanghai, Audrey is Executive Director & Vice President of International Markets as well as a Board Director of REFIRE. She is dedicated to advancing sustainable energy solutions that align with REFIRE's vision for widespread hydrogen technology adoption.In her role as Executive Director and Vice President of International Markets, she has been been instrumental in driving REFIRE's global growth by effectively navigating complex market dynamics and establishing strategic partnerships and local operations. She is able to leverage diverse perspectives, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence within the industry.A trained architect, Audrey held previous roles at HEAD Architecture, 10 Design, and B+H Architects, after which she did business development and Marketing at famed architecture firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP.Audrey holds a Bachelors in Architecture from Carleton University and a Masters in Urban Design from the University of Hong Kong. Audrey is a frequent speaker and participant at United Nations and Hydrogen Council events.About REFIRE:REFIRE is the world's leading deployer of commercial hydrogen fuel cell mobility and power. The company specialises in the design, testing, prototyping, application engineering, and production of fuel cell systems for buses, trucks, utility vehicles, power machines, and stationary power units. Since its founding in 2015, the REFIRE group of companies has grown to over 650 employees. Over 3,100 buses, trucks, and utility vehicles powered by REFIRE are in daily use in 20+ cities across 6 countries around the globe. Their combined mileage has surpassed 100 million kilometres to date.--Links:REFIRE - https://en.refire.com/

In Season Five, Episode 3 of the Show Up or Shut Up podcast, host Wendy Solganik interviews artist Arlyna Blanchard. Arlyna, who resides in Singapore and runs her own design firm, will be joining Fodder School 5 as a teacher for the first time. The episode explores Arlyna's artistic journey, from her early influences in the Philippines to her expansive career in graphic design in Taiwan and now in Shanghai. They discuss her experiences with urban sketching, digital scrapbooking, and the challenges of teaching online art courses. Arlyna shares personal anecdotes about balancing a demanding career while raising twins, and how her art practice evolved post-divorce. The episode offers insight into her creative process and her love for vibrant colors, particularly neon pink. This inspiring conversation highlights Arlyna's dedication to continuous learning and artistic expression.00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest00:21 Meet Arlyna Blanchard: Artist and Teacher00:48 Wendy and Arlyna's Artistic Connection01:55 Podcast Overview and Host Introduction03:23 Arlyna's Background and Journey05:43 Growing Up in the Philippines07:23 Cultural and Linguistic Influences13:22 Artistic Beginnings and Influences21:29 Education and Career Path22:52 Life in Taiwan and Move to Shanghai33:47 Family Life and Artistic Exploration36:11 Scrapbooking and Early Art Journaling42:07 Struggles with Art Journaling43:17 Finding Personal Style in Art45:34 Balancing Art and Life46:47 The Impact of Divorce on Creativity48:40 Work-Life Balance and Art54:09 Embracing Favorite Colors01:02:19 The Joy of Learning and Teaching01:10:25 Exploring Urban Sketching and Illustration01:19:23 The Therapeutic Power of Art01:21:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, recorded at the SNEC Conference in Shanghai, the world's largest solar and energy storage event, Sean meets with Dr. Stefan Kaufmann, former member of the German Parliament and Hydrogen Commissioner for the German government. Dr. Kaufman is now a consultant in the private sector and co-head of the hydrogen sector of the Clean Tech Business Club. They discussed the power of international collaboration through the Clean Tech Business Club. How hydrogen is transforming the industries: steel, shipping, aviation and more. The challenges and opportunities of transporting and storing hydrogen and why ammonia is the key for global hydrogen logistics.   Topics Covered: Hydrogen Economy German Parliament CleanTech Business Club Hans Josef-Fell Green Party = Conservative Party Tomasz Slusarz Hydrogen Plants Hydrogen in Mobility Sector Green Molecule Green Hydrogen Ammonia Fertilizers Shipping the sunshine Compressed hydorgen Natural Gas Pipeline Synthetic Aviation Fuel   You can reach Dr. Stefan Kaufmann here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-stefan-kaufmann    Website: www.cleantechbusiness.club/   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean's classes at www.heatspring.com/sean

If you're familiar at all with Shanghai's modern Pudong skyline, you know that "interesting" is a good way to describe it. And with so much interesting architecture going up, you know there are going to be some nicknames given. In this Chinese lesson, we cover not only Shanghai's tallest buildings, but also some of Beijing's iconic structures. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1673

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Jasmine Tea and Urban Dreamscapes: A Serendipitous Encounter Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-08-08-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 麦琳推开茶店的玻璃门，温暖的空气和淡淡的茉莉花香扑面而来。En: Mailin pushed open the glass door of the tea shop, and a warm air mixed with a faint jasmine scent greeted her.Zh: 她找到了一处空桌，挨着大窗，透过窗户，她能看到外面高高的摩天大楼，那是浦东的标志。En: She found an empty table by a large window, through which she could see the tall skyscrapers outside, a landmark of Pudong.Zh: 茶店内饰温馨，墙上挂着现代艺术作品，还有几副传统的中国画，仿佛在这个喧嚣的城市中，开辟出一片宁静的绿洲。En: The interior of the tea shop was cozy, with modern art pieces hanging on the walls alongside several traditional Chinese paintings, creating a peaceful oasis amidst the bustling city.Zh: 此时，是盛夏，阳光透过玻璃窗洒在室内，增添了几分慵懒的气氛。En: It was midsummer, and the sunlight streaming through the glass window added a lazy atmosphere to the room.Zh: 不远处，简细心地挑选着架子上的茶叶。En: Not far away, Jian was carefully selecting tea leaves from the shelves.Zh: 突然，他和麦琳同时伸手去拿同一个小盒子，里面装着最后一包茉莉花茶。En: Suddenly, he and Mailin reached for the same small box containing the last pack of jasmine tea.Zh: “哦，抱歉，我不是故意的。”麦琳微笑着说。En: "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to," Mailin said with a smile.Zh: “没关系，我也没注意到。”简回答，语气平和。En: "It's okay, I didn't notice either," Jian replied, his tone calm.Zh: 两人都对手中的茶盒轻笑。En: The two shared a light laugh over the tea box.Zh: 麦琳小心地询问：“你也喜欢茉莉花茶吗？”En: Mailin cautiously asked, "Do you like jasmine tea too?"Zh: “是的，”简说，“我喜欢它的味道很清新凉爽。”En: "Yes," Jian said, "I like its fresh and cool taste."Zh: 这简单的对话，成了两人深入交流的开始。En: This simple conversation became the start of a deeper exchange.Zh: 简是个建筑师，热衷于设计能够与自然和谐相处的绿色建筑。En: Jian was an architect, passionate about designing green buildings that harmonize with nature.Zh: 他的想法独特而大胆，却常因团队的保守而无法施展。En: His ideas were unique and bold, but they often went undeveloped due to his team's conservatism.Zh: 反观麦琳，她是一名记者，正寻找一个全新的角度来撰写关于上海现代都市文化的文章。En: In contrast, Mailin was a journalist, seeking a fresh angle to write about Shanghai's modern urban culture.Zh: 每次她觉得自己找到了切入点，就发现别人已经写过。这让她感到烦恼不已。En: Every time she thought she had found a breakthrough, she discovered someone else had already covered it, leaving her frustrated.Zh: 随着对话的展开，麦琳突然有了灵感：“或许，我可以写关于上海如何将传统与现代结合的新角度。”En: As the conversation unfolded, Mailin suddenly had an idea: "Perhaps I can write from a new perspective on how Shanghai combines tradition with modernity."Zh: 简被激发了灵感：“正是这点，我的设计方案可以以传统美学为基调，融入现代的科技与材料。”En: Jian was inspired: "Exactly, my design proposals can use traditional aesthetics as a base, integrated with modern technology and materials."Zh: 茶店的店主看见两人开心地讨论着，提议他们参与即将开始的即兴茶品活动。En: The tea shop owner saw the two happily discussing and suggested they join an upcoming impromptu tea tasting event.Zh: 品茶过程中，两人继续交换着对城市与文化的看法。En: During the tasting, they continued exchanging views on the city and culture.Zh: 活动接近尾声时，麦琳已经在心中勾勒出她文章的轮廓，而简也想出了要在下一次会议上提出的设计方案。En: As the event neared its end, Mailin had already outlined her article in her mind, while Jian had figured out a design proposal to present at the next meeting.Zh: 简微笑着对麦琳说：“谢谢你，和你聊天让我更加坚定了自己的想法。”En: Jian smiled at Mailin and said, "Thank you, talking with you has made me more determined about my ideas."Zh: 麦琳也欣慰地说：“没有你的启发，我或许还在困惑中挣扎。”En: Mailin also felt relieved and said, "Without your inspiration, I might still be struggling in confusion."Zh: 就在这家小小的茶店里，通过这场偶然的邂逅，他们都发现了前行的方向。En: In this small tea shop, through this chance encounter, they both found their way forward.Zh: 渐渐，两人走出了茶店，阳光依旧明媚，他们带着新的信心，走向各自的梦想。En: Gradually, they walked out of the tea shop, with the sunshine still bright, carrying new confidence as they headed toward their respective dreams. Vocabulary Words:pushed: 推开scent: 香skyscrapers: 摩天大楼interior: 内饰cozy: 温馨amidst: 中bustling: 喧嚣greeted: 扑面而来oasis: 绿洲streaming: 透过lazy: 慵懒selecting: 挑选tone: 语气harmonize: 和谐undeveloped: 无法施展conservatism: 保守angle: 角度breakthrough: 切入点frustrated: 烦恼perspective: 角度proposals: 方案traditional: 传统integrated: 融入upcoming: 即将impromptu: 即兴tasting: 品views: 看法inspiration: 启发confusion: 困惑confidence: 信心

Talita 可以说是环岛了南美吗？绕了一大圈，有危地马拉，洪都拉斯，哥斯达黎加，哥伦比亚，秘鲁，玻利维亚，智利，阿根廷，南极，巴西，古巴，墨西哥。

Alibaba Group's grocery retail arm Hema, also known as Freshippo, has officially exited the membership store business, shuttering all Hema X locations as it pivots toward more profitable formats amid intensifying competition in China's retail market.阿里巴巴集团旗下的杂货零售部门盒马鲜生（也称为Freshippo）已正式退出会员店业务，关闭了所有盒马X门店，因为它在中国零售市场竞争加剧的情况下转向了更有利可图的模式。Hema said that its Shanghai Senlan store, the last remaining Hema X location, will cease operations on Aug 31. The closure follows the shutdown of stores in Beijing; Suzhou and Nanjing of Jiangsu province in late July. After the Senlan store closure, Hema will no longer operate any stores under the membership model.盒马表示，其上海森兰店是盒马X最后一家门店，将于8月31日停止运营。在北京门店关闭之后，该店也随之关闭；7月下旬，江苏省苏州市和南京市。森兰门店关闭后，盒马将不再以会员模式经营任何门店。Customers holding Hema X memberships — priced at 258 yuan annually for Gold and 658 yuan for Diamond — will be eligible for refunds or can transfer benefits to other Hema formats.持有盒马X会员资格的客户（金卡年费258元，钻石卡年费658元）将有资格获得退款，或者可以将福利转移到其他盒马格式。The move signals the end of Hema's experiment with membership stores, which the company once positioned as a "second growth curve" akin to US membership giants Costco and Sam's Club.此举标志着盒马对会员店的实验结束，该公司曾将会员店定位为类似于美国会员巨头好市多和山姆会员店的“第二增长曲线”。The first Hema X opened in Shanghai in October 2020. By October 2023, the format had expanded to 10 stores across key cities.第一家盒马鲜生X于2020年10月在上海开业。到2023年10月，该模式已扩展到主要城市的10家门店。Hema management made a strategic call earlier this year to concentrate resources on Freshippo and Hema neighbor business, both of which are showing stronger growth momentum.今年早些时候，盒马管理层发出战略呼吁，将资源集中在Freshippo和盒马NB（邻居业务）上，这两家公司都显示出更强劲的增长势头。In an internal letter at the end of 2024, Hema CEO Yan Xiaolei reaffirmed confidence in the company's Hema NB format, with a goal to expand to 300 stores in fiscal year 2025.在2024年底的一封内部信中，盒马首席执行官严筱磊重申了对公司盒马NB模式的信心，目标是在2025财年将门店扩展到300家。According to Alibaba's latest annual report, Hema plans to deepen its presence in emerging cities and counties, with a focus on value-driven formats. The company's gross merchandise value surpassed 75 billion yuan in fiscal year 2025, and its adjusted earnings before interest, taxation and amortization turned positive for the first time. Freshippo now operates over 420 stores, with online orders contributing more than 60 percent of sales.根据阿里巴巴最新的年度报告，盒马计划深化其在新兴城市和县的业务，重点是价值驱动型业态。该公司2025财年的商品总价值超过750亿元，调整后的息税摊销前利润首次转为正值。Freshippo目前经营着420多家商店，在线订单占销售额的60%以上。Analysts said the collapse of Hema X highlights the challenges Chinese retailers face in replicating the US membership model.分析人士表示，盒马鲜生X的倒闭凸显了中国零售商在复制美国会员模式方面面临的挑战。"Hema X charged membership fees, but it never truly validated a mature model," said Jason Yu, general manager of CTR Market Research. "It faced pressure from both global competitors like Sam's Club and domestic players, but lacked strong differentiation in product assortment and customer experience."CTR市场研究总经理Jason Yu表示：“盒马鲜生收取会员费，但它从未真正验证过一个成熟的模式。”。“它面临着来自山姆会员店等全球竞争对手和国内企业的压力，但在产品组合和客户体验方面缺乏强大的差异化。”While Sam's Club benefits from a global supply chain and robust local procurement, most Chinese entrants lack comparable sourcing and private-label development capabilities, said Yu.余表示，虽然山姆会员店受益于全球供应链和强大的本地采购，但大多数中国进入者缺乏可比的采购和自有品牌开发能力。"Costco has started to localize its assortment, but the offering still leans heavily toward an American lifestyle that doesn't fully align with Chinese consumer habits," Yu said. "Omnichannel capabilities also remain weak — there's no front-end warehouse system to support fast delivery expectations."余说：“好市多已经开始对其产品进行本地化，但产品仍然严重倾向于与中国消费者习惯不完全一致的美国生活方式。”。“全渠道能力也仍然薄弱——没有前端仓库系统来支持快速交付的期望。”Hema's retreat from the warehouse format also reflects broader changes in Chinese consumer behavior, particularly among middle- and high-income shoppers.盒马放弃仓储模式也反映了中国消费者行为的更广泛变化，尤其是在中高收入消费者中。"High-income households still value product quality and freshness, but they've become increasingly rational," said Laura Liu, senior research analyst at market observer Mintel China. "We're seeing more of them shift toward fresh-product discount stores, which offer a better price-to-value balance."市场观察机构英敏特中国的高级研究分析师Laura Liu表示：“高收入家庭仍然重视产品质量和新鲜度，但他们已经变得越来越理性。”。“我们看到越来越多的人转向新鲜产品折扣店，这提供了更好的性价比平衡。”According to Mintel, shoppers are no longer loyal to a single retail format. Instead, they alternate between warehouse stores and discount channels depending on purchase scenarios. This crossover trend reflects a broad shift toward flexible, needs-based consumption.据英敏特称，购物者不再忠于单一的零售模式。相反，他们根据购买场景在仓库商店和折扣渠道之间交替。这种交叉趋势反映了向灵活、基于需求的消费的广泛转变。Hema is doubling down on its discount Hema NB format to capture this evolving demand.为了满足这一不断变化的需求，盒马正加倍努力推出折扣版盒马NB。Consultancy Kantar Worldpanel data show that Hema NB boosted its penetration by 1.6 percentage points in eastern China during the first quarter of 2025, outpacing growth in traditional retail formats. Overall, Freshippo's reach grew 1.3 percentage points year-on-year in the first quarter.咨询公司凯度消费者指数的数据显示，2025年第一季度，盒马NB在中国东部的渗透率提高了1.6个百分点，超过了传统零售业态的增长。总体而言，Freshippo的覆盖率在第一季度同比增长了1.3个百分点。The company has also accelerated store openings, averaging one new location every five days in 2024.该公司还加快了店铺的开业速度，2024年平均每五天就有一家新店开业。The NB format, focused on community-based stores offering aggressively priced fresh goods and snacks, has shown particular strength in town-level markets. In the first quarter, discount snack store penetration reached 18 percent, with southern and lower-tier regions seeing the fastest growth.NB模式侧重于以社区为基础的商店，提供价格高昂的新鲜商品和小吃，在城镇市场表现出了特别的优势。第一季度，折扣小吃店的渗透率达到18%，其中南部和低线地区增长最快。"Consumers are seeking more value without compromising on quality," Liu said. "Discount retailers that deliver on both fronts are well-positioned to capture share in this new retail landscape."刘说：“消费者在不牺牲质量的情况下寻求更多的价值。”。“在这两个方面都提供服务的折扣零售商处于有利地位，可以在这个新的零售格局中占据份额。”closuren.（永久地）停业/ˈkləʊʒə/warehousen.仓库、货仓/ˈweəhaʊs/

China's Shanghai Gold Stockpile Surges... While most retail investors in the West are still trying to figure out how to spell gold or silver, conditions in the East remain quite a bit different. Especially as China's Shanghai gold stockpile has surged. And to find out more about why, you'll want to see this morning's precious metals update with Vince Lanci! - To read the details of Fortuna Mining's 2nd quarter earnings go to: https://fortunamining.com/news/fortuna-reports-results-for-the-second-quarter-of-2025/ - Get access to Arcadia's Daily Gold and Silver updates here: https://goldandsilverdaily.substack.com/ - To get your very own 'Silver Chopper Ben' statue go to: https://arcadiaeconomics.com/chopper-ben-landing-page/ - Join our free email list to be notified when a new video comes out: click here: https://arcadiaeconomics.com/email-signup/ - Follow Arcadia Economics on twitter at: https://x.com/ArcadiaEconomic - To get your copy of 'The Big Silver Short' (paperback or audio) go to: https://arcadiaeconomics.com/thebigsilvershort/ - Listen to Arcadia Economics on your favorite Podcast platforms: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/75OH2PpgUpriBA5mYf5kyY Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/arcadia-economics/id1505398976 - #silver #silverprice #gold And remember to get outside and have some fun every once in a while!:) (URL0VD)Subscribe to Arcadia Economics on Soundwise

Ed White is a correspondent with the Financial Times based in Shanghai

This week on Sinica, Paul Triolo of DGA Albright Stonebridge and tech investor Ryan Cunningham join to talk about their observations and insights from the World AI Conference (WAIC), held in July in Shanghai, and what it tells them about China's ambitions in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence. Don't miss this one!04:21 - Ryan on his Edgerunner fund06:23 - Impressions of the World AI Conference in Shanghai13:52 - Approaches to AI development in the US and China24:04 - China's role in global AI safety 33:42 - AI market: US vs China38:20 - AI diffusion in China44:56 - AI safety frameworks52:06 - Domestic development of Chinese AI1:04:06 - Pressure of Domestic AI Alternatives1:08:43 - Can AI have a dual role in the U.S.?1:17:25 -Paying it Forward 1:20:16 - RecommendationsPaying it Forward: Kevin Xu, Kyle Chan, Helen Toner (Rising Tide Substack), Piotr Mazurek and Felix Gabriel (LLM Inference Economics from First Principles).Recommendations: Paul: Neil deGrasse Tyson - Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution (book), Sara Imari Walker's Life As No One Knows It (book)Ryan: Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (video game)Kaiser: The Studio (TV series), Platonic (TV series)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

【欢迎订阅】 每天早上5:30，准时更新。 【阅读原文】 标题：If women don't want children, will cash fix it? 正文：1.To get a sense of China's demographic problem, consider the generations of my family. My great-grandmother had nine children. My grandmother had three by the age of 27. My mother had only one by the same age. I'm now a few years older than that milestone, and I still don't want kids yet. You can imagine the anxious conversations my grandma and mum have with me. But they know that I'm hardly an exception, in the UK or in China. For Chinese women, the average age of first marriage has risen from 22 in the 1980s to 28 now, and the average age women have their first child is now about 29; in Beijing and Shanghai it is even higher. 2.Birth decline is a global crisis, and the Chinese situation is among the most severe. It took only seven years for the number of annual births to halve, a grim milestone that took Japan 41 years. China now accounts for more than a quarter of the world's elderly but only 7 per cent of the world's newborns. If, as the UN forecasts, China's population halves by 2100, with almost half aged over 65, then it will have grown old before it grew rich, its hegemonic ambitions under serious threat from younger challengers, the likes of India and Nigeria. 知识点：halve v. /hɑːv/ to reduce something to half its original size or amount 使减半 • The company has halved its carbon emissions in the past decade. 这家公司在过去十年中将碳排放量减半。 • The number of road accidents has halved since the new speed limits were introduced. 自从引入新限速后，道路交通事故数量减少了一半。 获取外刊的完整原文以及精讲笔记，请关注微信公众号「早安英文」，回复“外刊”即可。更多有意思的英语干货等着你！ 【节目介绍】 《早安英文-每日外刊精读》，带你精读最新外刊，了解国际最热事件：分析语法结构，拆解长难句，最接地气的翻译，还有重点词汇讲解。 所有选题均来自于《经济学人》《纽约时报》《华尔街日报》《华盛顿邮报》《大西洋月刊》《科学杂志》《国家地理》等国际一线外刊。 【适合谁听】 1、关注时事热点新闻，想要学习最新最潮流英文表达的英文学习者 2、任何想通过地道英文提高听、说、读、写能力的英文学习者 3、想快速掌握表达，有出国学习和旅游计划的英语爱好者 4、参加各类英语考试的应试者（如大学英语四六级、托福雅思、考研等） 【你将获得】 1、超过1000篇外刊精读课程，拓展丰富语言表达和文化背景 2、逐词、逐句精确讲解，系统掌握英语词汇、听力、阅读和语法 3、每期内附学习笔记，包含全文注释、长难句解析、疑难语法点等，帮助扫除阅读障碍。

Top Stories for August 5th Publish Date: August 5th From The BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Tuesday, August 5th and Happy Birthday to Neil Armstrong I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia Gwinnett Tech program helps fill critical need for respiratory therapists Mercer Earns Commitment from Hebron Christian's Devon Caldwell School is back in session for Buford, Gwinnett students All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe! Break 1: Kia MOG STORY 1: Gwinnett Tech program helps fill critical need for respiratory therapists Now more than ever, respiratory therapists are essential—hospitals, clinics, assisted-living facilities, you name it. They’re the ones keeping people breathing, literally. And Gwinnett Tech’s Respiratory Care program? It’s leading the charge. In just 14 months, students can earn an associate degree and step into a field where demand is sky-high. The program’s no joke—12-hour clinical shifts, classroom work, and prepping for national board exams. Grueling? Sure. But worth it. The accolades speak volumes: national awards, a 100% credentialing success rate, and partnerships with top hospitals. Classes start in January. Ready to make a difference? STORY 2: Mercer Earns Commitment from Hebron Christian's Devon Caldwell Hebron Christian’s Devon Caldwell is heading to Mercer University, making his commitment official on Sunday. And honestly? Mercer’s getting a star. Last season, Caldwell was unstoppable—1,458 rushing yards, 23 touchdowns, plus 12 catches for 121 yards and another score. Oh, and did we mention he helped lead Hebron to its first-ever state championship? Yeah, no big deal. But here’s the kicker: the guy’s not just a beast on the field. He’s rocking a 4.4 GPA. How does he even sleep? Mercer’s not just getting an athlete—they’re getting a leader, a workhorse, and, let’s be real, probably a future team captain. STORY 3: School is back in session for Buford, Gwinnett students August is here, and with it comes the bittersweet end of summer break. Sure, the heat’s still relentless, but for kids in Gwinnett County and Buford, it’s back to the grind—school’s in session. Buford students kicked things off Friday, while Gwinnett students headed back on Monday. This year, safety’s a big focus. Gwinnett’s adding weapons detection systems and more resource officers, while Buford’s enforcing clear book bags—no stickers allowed. Meanwhile, schools are getting upgrades: new labs, fresh roofs, and even a cafeteria makeover. Oh, and 15 schools have new principals. Drivers? Slow down. School zones are watching. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We’ll be right back Break 2: Ingles Markets STORY 4: William Byron saves fuel to the max in suspenseful NASCAR Cup win at Iowa Chaos, cautions, and a whole lot of fuel-saving magic. That’s how William Byron snagged his second win of the season Sunday at the Iowa Corn 350. Seriously, 144 laps on one tank? At a track where 100 laps is the norm? Unreal. Byron held off Chase Briscoe, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Blaney in a nail-biter finish, crossing the line 1.192 seconds ahead. His No. 24 Chevy? It ran dry during the burnout—talk about cutting it close. Seven cautions in the final stage helped Byron stretch his fuel, while Briscoe and Keselowski couldn’t quite catch him. Next up? Watkins Glen. The Playoff race is heating up. STORY 5: Once the magnet that fueled Gwinnett’s growth, the Gwinnett County Public School System is working to get back on an even keel In 2014, Gwinnett County Public Schools snagged its second Broad Prize for Urban Education—a big deal, recognizing schools that lift up low-income and minority students. Only Gwinnett and Houston, Texas, have won it twice. But that was then. Since those glory days, Gwinnett’s changed—more people, more diversity, and a political shift that flipped the school board from Republican to Democratic control. With new leadership came new policies, and, well, growing pains. Critics point to leadership turnover (two fired superintendents in four years), discipline issues, and lagging reading scores. Supporters? They say the system’s evolving, not crumbling. Interim Superintendent Al Taylor is trying to steady the ship. “Stability doesn’t mean stagnation,” he says. The challenges are real—teacher retention, class sizes, absenteeism—but the board insists students remain the focus. School starts this week. The work continues. STORY 6: Eli White homers twice as Braves take checkered flag in Speedway Classic Eli White? Man, he was on fire. Two homers—two!—to push the Braves past the Reds, 4-2, in this wild Speedway Classic at Bristol. Baseball at a racetrack? Sure, why not. The game actually started Saturday but got paused—bottom of the first, no less. Sunday? Clear skies, no drama, just baseball. Oh, and history: first MLB game in Tennessee. Crowd? Supposedly 91,000 tickets sold, but Sunday’s turnout? Let’s just say it wasn’t packed. White crushed a three-run bomb in the fifth, then a solo shot in the seventh. Six homers this season now. Hurston Waldrep, fresh from Triple-A, snagged the win. His MLB debut? Solid—5 2/3 innings, one run. Raisel Iglesias? Nails in the ninth for save #14. The Reds? They had chances—loaded the bases in the eighth—but couldn’t cash in. STORY 7: ART BEAT: Norcross Gallery and Studio's 'Drawing Attention' attracts regional exhibiting artists Gwinnett’s arts scene? It’s more than just local flair—it’s a magnet, pulling in folks from all over. And the stories behind the art? They’re what make it sing. Take Haiqi Carr, for example. Born in Shanghai, she carried her love of art halfway across the world. But it wasn’t until she landed in Atlanta—thanks to her husband’s job—that she finally gave herself permission to dive in. “I’d spent my life checking boxes—daughter, wife, mom. Art? That was for later,” she said. “Then one day, I just… started.” Fast forward: her charcoal portrait, Yamaguchi, is now in Norcross Gallery’s “Drawing Attention” exhibit. It’s a nod to Yamaguchi Momoe, a Japanese icon from Carr’s childhood. “Her smile—it’s pure nostalgia for me,” Carr shared. The exhibit runs through Aug. 23. Go see it. Seriously. We’ll have closing comments after this. Break 4: Ingles Markets Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com  www.kiamallofga.com #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The author and former media mogul explains why he chose fiction as the best way to capture Shanghai's go-go years in his new novel.The China Books Podcast is a companion of China Books Review, a project of Asia Society's Center on U.S.-China Relations and The Wire, a digital business platform that also publishes The Wire China. For any queries or comments, please write to editor[at]chinabooksreview.com.

Last time we spoke about the battle along the Wusong Creek. The situation was dire for the Chinese defenders, who faced overwhelming odds. Among them was Ogishima, a Japanese soldier who experienced the brutal reality of war firsthand. Amidst the chaos, battles erupted along the Wusong Creek, where both sides suffered heavy casualties. Chinese forces, despite being greatly outnumbered in terms of tactical superiority, demonstrated extraordinary resilience, fighting bravely even when retreat was necessary. As the battle raged on, tactics evolved; Chinese troops fortified defenses and implemented guerrilla warfare strategies. The soldiers transformed the landscape into a fortification, turning abandoned buildings into strongholds. October brought a fresh wave of violence. The Japanese pressed their attack, unleashing superior firepower that gradually saw them conquer Dachang.    #161 The Battle of Shanghai #6: the 800 heroes who defended the Sihang Warehouse Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Before the fall of Dachang, despite the threat of court-martial for anyone abandoning their posts, a general withdrawal of all Chinese forces in the Jiangwan salient was already in progress. As early as the night between October 24 and 25, the divisions within the salient had been ordered to move their baggage trains and support services back southwest across Suzhou Creek, utilizing the Zhongshan Bridge and Jessfield Railway Bridge. As the fighting intensified north of Zhabei in the subsequent days, the flow of soldiers, vehicles, and pack animals continued. By the night between October 26 and 27, the Chinese completely vacated metropolitan Shanghai north of Suzhou Creek. A foreign journalist wrot “The enormous Chinese army simply melted away and at dawn the Japanese found themselves facing empty positions. The two armies were no longer in contact.” During their retreat from Zhabei, the Chinese systematically set fire to thousands of shops and homes, implementing a scorched earth policy. At 7:00 am on October 27, eight narrow columns of smoke cut across the horizon from one end of Zhabei to the other. Two hours later, these columns had transformed into “huge black pillars stretching towards the azure sky.” By afternoon, a massive wall of smoke stretched four miles long, rising thousands of feet into the air. In the words of a German advisor, it was a fire “of unimaginable extent” that raged out of control for several days, repeatedly threatening to spill into the International Settlement. Refugees who had left Zhabei weeks or months earlier, hoping to return now that the fighting seemed to be over, were devastated to see their homes consumed by an immense sea of flames. The Japanese Army, or more specifically the doctrine guiding it in the field, failed in two significant ways by allowing some of China's best divisions to escape the trap they had set for them. First, on the evening of October 26, after taking Dachang, the Japanese columns could have advanced across Zhabei right to the edge of the International Settlement. Instead, they followed orders and ceased their advance at the line they had reached at sunset. German advisor Borchardt wrote “The only explanation for this is the lack of independent thinking among junior Japanese commanders and their fear of deviating even slightly from a meticulously detailed attack plan.  Since the Japanese focused on rallying and reorganizing their forces after the fall of Dachang, they missed an opportunity for a victory so decisive that the Chinese would have been forced to give up their continued resistance in Shanghai.” If the Japanese made their first mistake by leaving a door open for the enemy to escape, they committed a second error by failing to notice that the enemy was using that door. Although Japanese reconnaissance planes monitored the two main bridges utilized by the Chinese to retreat and even deployed parachute flares to detect movements at night, they inexplicably failed to observe the Chinese withdrawal. The retreat was executed precisely as planned, with every piece of artillery withdrawn. This allowed the Chinese to occupy prepared positions south of Suzhou Creek and around Nanxiang, enabling them to continue the fight another day. Despite their missteps, the Japanese initially celebrated their conquest of Zhabei as a victory, placing thousands of small Rising Sun flags throughout the district's ruins. Amid this sea of white and red, the only relatively intact structure, the Four Banks' Warehouse, starkly reminded them that the Chinese still maintained a foothold north of Suzhou Creek. Rumors began to circulate that the soldiers inside had vowed to fight to the death. The Japanese came to realize that their triumph in Zhabei would be perceived as flawed and would even resemble a defeat as long as the warehouse remained in Chinese hands. It was back on October 26, Chiang Kai-shek ordered all forces in Shanghai to withdraw to the western rural region. To facilitate a safe retreat, a rearguard was necessary, as is standard in military withdrawals. Chiang issued orders to General Gu Zhutong, the acting commander of the 3rd Military Region, to leave the 88th Division behind, not only to buy time for the retreating forces but also to stage a final grand stand in front of the Shanghai International Settlement. This was a last-ditch effort to gain international support, as the nine Great Powers were set to convene on November 6. However, General Gu Zhutong was personally attached to the 88th Division, and thus reluctant to abandon them. It's worth noting that he was acting commander in this position because his next post was to lead the 88th Division. Therefore, he telegrammed the divisional commander at the time, General Sun Yuanliang, who also opposed the plan to leave the 88th Division behind. While neither Gu Zhutong nor Sun Yuanliang were willing to disobey orders from the Generalissimo, Sun proposed a solution: They could leave a portion of the troops behind, just not the entire 88th Division. In his words, “How many people we sacrifice would not make a difference; it would achieve the same purpose.” Sun suggested leaving behind a single regiment from the 88th Division to defend one or two heavily fortified positions. Gu Zhutong agreed to this plan, and at that time, the 88th Divisional Headquarters was located at the Sihang Warehouse. The Sihang Warehouse is a six-story concrete building situated in the Zhabei district, just north of Suzhou Creek, at the northwestern edge of the New Lese Bridge. The warehouse was constructed collaboratively by four banks, hence the name "Sihang," which translates to "four banks." Directly across Suzhou Creek lies the Shanghai International Settlement, a neutral territory where Western foreigners resided. The fighting would occur literally just across the creek, forcing Western observers to witness the heroic last stand that China would make in Shanghai up close. For those who might not be aware, there is an outstanding film titled “The Eight Hundred.” I even reviewed the movie on my channel, the Pacific War Channel, on YouTube. The film excellently captures the remarkable situation, depicting an extravagant city on one side of a river, filled with entertainment, casinos, bars, and restaurants. The international community enjoys their vibrant lives, full of colors and lights, while on the other side lies a literal warzone. The Sihang Warehouse stands there, bullet-ridden, as the Japanese continuously attempt to storm it against the Chinese defenders. It's a compelling film worth checking out, feel free to take a look at my review as well! Returning to the story, Sun Yuanliang reconsidered and believed that leaving an entire regiment was excessive. Instead, he opted to leave behind an over-strength battalion. The 1st Battalion of the 524th Regiment was chosen for this task. A young colonel, Xie Jinyuan, who was also new to the 88th Division, volunteered to lead the battalion. No one who had met Xie Jinyuan could doubt that he was the ideal choice to lead the battalion that would stay behind, holed up inside the Sihang Warehouse in a corner of Zhabei, demonstrating to both the domestic and international audience that China remained resolute in its resistance against Japanese aggression. The 32-year-old graduate of the elite Central Military Academy, who had been stationed in Shanghai with the 88th Division since hostilities began in August, was a soldier to the core. He stood as straight as a bayonet, and according to a foreign correspondent who met him, even while wearing a mask, he was unmistakably a military man. In the correspondent's words, he represented “modern China stripped for action.” Upon receiving his assignment on the night of October 26, Xie Jinyuan went directly to the warehouse and was pleased with what he found. It resembled a virtual fortress. Each of its walls was pockmarked with numerous rifle slots, ensuring that attacking infantry would face a barrage of fire from the building's well-defended positions. It was evident that once the Japanese arrived, they would surround the structure on three sides; however, a link remained to the International Settlement to the south across Lese Bridge. British forward positions were as close as 40 feet away, and with careful maneuvering and a bit of luck, it was likely that the injured could be evacuated under the cover of darkness. From a tactical standpoint, it was an ideal location.   Still, improvements were possible, and Xie ordered the soldiers already present to work through the night to enhance their defenses. They had an ample supply of large bags filled with wheat and corn at their disposal, which served as excellent substitutes for sandbags. Xie Jinyuan's first challenge was to rally the soldiers of the 524th Regiment's 1st Battalion to occupy the warehouse positions. This was a complex task, given the short notice, as the companies and platoons were scattered throughout Zhabei, and some had unknowingly begun moving west with the rest of the Chinese Army, unaware of the orders their battalion had received. Throughout the night, Xie and his second-in-command, Yang Ruifu, dispatched orderlies through the blazing streets in search of their men amidst the throng of retreating soldiers. Eventually, their efforts bore fruit. By 9:00 a.m. on October 27, the last remaining soldiers of the battalion arrived at the warehouse. By then, Xie Jinyuan's force consisted of just over 400 officers and soldiers. This was a minuscule number compared to the might of the Japanese military, and they were immediately put to the test. Xie was unfamiliar with the men under his command, effectively being thrown into the deep end, so to speak. The location chosen for their stand was, of course, the Sihang Warehouse. The 1st Battalion originally comprised eight hundred men, but casualties incurred during the Battle of Shanghai had reduced their numbers to just 452 soldiers before the defense of the Sihang Warehouse began. Each soldier was armed with either a Hanyang 88 or Chiang Kai-shek rifle, an 8mm Mauser, grenades, a German M1935 Stahlhelm, a gas mask, and they also had some Czech ZB vz.26 light machine guns, along with four Type 24 Maxim guns. They would face off against the forces of the 3rd IJA Division, commanded by General Iwane Matsui, as well as the 10th Battalion, 8th, and 9th Companies of the Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force under Captain Okochi Denshichi. The Japanese forces were further bolstered by approximately 260 sailors from the Yokosuka 2nd Independent SNLF Company and another 200 sailors from the Kure 1st SNLF 2nd Company. Additionally, the 8th and 9th Companies of the Shanghai SNLF, originally attached to the 4th Artillery Battalion, would provide support with howitzers and mountain guns. In total, around 980 infantrymen from the reinforced 10th Battalion of the Shanghai SNLF, along with another 200 artillerymen from the 8th and 9th Companies, were involved in the Japanese assault on the Sihang Warehouse. Xie Jinyuan consolidated his battalion's defenses inside the Sihang Warehouse, believing it would provide his men the highest chance of holding out for as long as possible. He correctly assessed that the Imperial Japanese Army would be unable to use their heaviest artillery, aerial bombardment, gas attacks, or naval guns for fear of accidentally striking the International Settlement. It's important to remember that this was 1937, and the Empire of Japan was not willing to risk open warfare with Western nations until 1941. What the Japanese did have access to were armored vehicles, such as the Type 94 tankettes. The Japanese infantry were equipped with various weapons, including the Arisaka Type 38 rifle, Type 11 and Type 96 light machine guns, the Nambu Type 14 pistol, Type 92 heavy machine gun, Type 97 grenade, Type 89 grenade discharger, and the Type 93 flamethrower. On October 27, various companies of the battalion reached the Sihang Warehouse after a fighting withdrawal. By this point, they numbered 414 men, who essentially volunteered for a suicide mission and were later acknowledged by Chiang Kai-shek for their “exemplary soldierly conduct.” The 1st Battalion was commanded by Army Major Yang Ruifu, and their forces included the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Companies, as well as a Machine Gun Company, totaling 452 men once the remaining soldiers arrived. Due to two months of intense fighting in Shanghai, many of the German-trained elite troops had been killed or wounded, leaving the majority of the reinforcements at the Sihang Warehouse to be garrison troops from the surrounding provinces. Many of these soldiers came from the 5th Regiment of the Hubei Province Garrison, which meant that many were also inexperienced recruits. On October 27, news began to circulate throughout Shanghai that Chinese forces were still resisting the Japanese in the Zhabei district at the Sihang Warehouse. At 4 a.m., a Girl Guide named Yang Huimin approached a British guard at a post at the Chinese end of the New Lese Bridge, where she noticed a British soldier tossing a pack of cigarettes into the warehouse. Yang asked the soldier what he was doing, and he informed her that there was a battalion of Chinese soldiers inside. She then wrote a message and requested that the soldier place it inside a cigarette box and toss it over. Soon, the Chinese tossed back the cigarette box with a message indicating they needed food, ammunition, and lubricant for their weapons. Yang then left the bridge and began pleading for help at the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, but no one believed her story. Xie Jinyuan deployed the 1st Company, led by Captain Tao Xingchun, on the right side of the warehouse along Tibet Road. The 3rd Company, led by Shi Meihao, was stationed on the left across from the Bank of Communications building, while the 2nd Company, commanded by Deng Ying, held the other sides. Two heavy Type 24 Maxim machine guns were mounted on the roof of the Sihang Warehouse, with additional machine guns distributed among each company. A forward platoon from each company was sent out to provide early warning of any enemy attack. Furthermore, Xie ordered his combat engineers to place remote-detonated charges in front of the warehouse. His units were strategically dispersed with rifles and machine guns throughout the warehouse and on the rooftop. They reinforced the building with bags of sand, corn, and beans, and razed surrounding structures to create a deadly killing field. At 7:30 am an advance outpost reported seeing Japanese marines near the North Train Station, and 45 minutes later, it confirmed that the enemy's flag was flying over that building. The Chinese soldiers were ordered to engage the advancing IJA 3rd division, and over the next two hours, they executed a fighting retreat back toward the warehouse. A brief pause ensued, during which the Chinese defenders prepared themselves, with some taking up positions on the various floors of the warehouse and others crouching behind an outer wall surrounding the building. At 1:00 pm a Japanese column approached the warehouse, confidently marching down the middle of the road behind a large Rising Sun banner. It appeared more like a victory parade than a tactical maneuver. Once they were in range, the Chinese officers ordered their men to fire. Five Japanese soldiers fell, causing the rest of the column to scramble for cover. Within an hour, the Japanese had amassed enough troops to attempt a storming assault on the warehouse. A sizable force surrounded the building, unleashing so much firepower that the Chinese were forced to abandon the outer wall and retreat to the warehouse itself. Although the defenses remained solid, the crisis was far from over, and the attackers appeared to have gained dangerous momentum The first bloodshed occurred when ten IJA soldiers were killed while attempting to secure fortifications around the warehouse that had been rigged with explosives. At 2 p.m., a National Revolutionary Army  platoon led by Yin Qiucheng exchanged fire with approximately fifty IJA troops. By 3 pm, an IJA company consisting of around 194 men launched an attack on the warehouse from the west. During this engagement, the 3rd Company commander, Shi Meihao, was shot in the face but continued to lead the defense until he was shot again in the leg. Meanwhile, about seventy IJA soldiers took cover in a blind spot just southwest of the warehouse. In response, the NRA climbed to the rooftop and threw grenades at the IJA, killing seven and wounding twenty. The initial assault by the IJA was a failure, prompting them to set fire to the northwestern section of the warehouse, where fuel and lumber were stored. By 5 pm., firefighter efforts had extinguished the blaze, as the IJA were preoccupied with looting the Zhabei area. At this point, Yang Ruifu, the second-in-command, commanded a dozen soldiers to rush to the roof and lob hand grenades at the Japanese forces below. This counterattack halted the Japanese advance. As the Japanese withdrew, they left behind seven dead. Much of the fighting was closely watched by excited Chinese on the other side of the 60-yard Suzhou Creek. Each time news spread of another Japanese soldier being killed, a triumphant cheer erupted from the crowd. At 9 pm, battalion commander Yang Ruifu assessed that there would likely be no further IJA attacks that day and ordered the NRA to repair their fortifications and eat their meals. However, no one slept that night. The NRA suffered two deaths and four wounded, while the IJA reported seventeen dead and twenty wounded. Foreign correspondents witnessed the battle from the safety of Suzhou Creek, enjoying a front-row seat to the harsh reality of urban combat. One reporter observed a small group of Japanese soldiers cautiously approaching the warehouse, navigating through the broken masonry and twisted metal. Crawling from cover to cover, it took them 50 minutes to traverse just 50 yards. The Chinese defenders, watching from concealed vantage points, had been monitoring their movements all along. Once the Japanese party was close enough, the defenders unleashed a barrage of hand grenades. After the dust settled, they used their rifles to finish off anyone still able to move. Several Japanese attempting to rescue their wounded comrades were also killed. It was a war without mercy. Even after darkness fell over the warehouse, there was no time for sleep. The soldiers worked tirelessly to repair damages and reinforce their positions.  The next morning, Xie Jinyuan contacted the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce for assistance, having received their phone number from Yang Huimin. At 7 am on October 28, Japanese bombers began to circle the warehouse but refrained from dropping any bombs for fear of hitting the International Settlement. Surrounding the rooftops of nearby buildings was a sea of Rising Sun flags, serving to intimidate the NRA and signal that they were encircled. By 8 am, Xie delivered a pep talk to the defenders and noticed an IJA squad advancing along the Suzhou Creek. According to Yang Ruifu's memoirs, Xie picked up a rifle and shot one of the IJA soldiers from over a kilometer away, halting the squad's advance. At 3 pm, it began to rain as the IJA launched a major attack on the west side of the warehouse, taking control of the Bank of Communications building. From there, they deployed machine guns and cannons to bombard the north face of the warehouse. However, the cannons were unable to significantly damage the six-foot-thick walls, and the Japanese troops in the bank building were easily suppressed by the defenders on the warehouse roof, who enjoyed a superior vantage point. After two hours of fighting, the Japanese gave up on the attack but managed to cut electricity and water to the warehouse. Yang Ruifu ordered strict rationing, with each company placing its water reserves under guard and collecting urine in large barrels for firefighting purposes if necessary. Witnessing the fierce Chinese resistance, the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce was invigorated, and news of the stand quickly spread via radio. Crowds of 30,000 people gathered along the southern bank of the Suzhou Creek, cheering the defenders on. In response, ten truckloads of aid were donated by Shanghai citizens, making their way over the bridge to the warehouse throughout the night. The defenders received food, fruit, clothing, utensils, and letters of support from the citizens. A few journalists attempted to visit, but due to the commanding officers being busy, they only managed to meet with Lei Xiong, the Machine Gun Company commander. Xie Jinyuan also utilized the same trucks to transport ten wounded men into the International Settlement. During these truck transit actions, three NRA soldiers were killed by Japanese sharpshooters. Yang Huimin courageously ran to the warehouse to personally deliver the Republic of China flag to Xie Jinyuan. Upon receiving the flag, Xie was asked by a reporter about his plans, to which he simply replied, “Defend to the death.” Yang Huimin then requested a list of the soldiers' names to announce to the entire country. However, Xie was reluctant to provide this information, fearing it would reveal his actual numbers and prompt the Japanese to storm the warehouse. Instead, he wrote down 800 names from the original 524th Regiment's roster. Thus, the legend of the “800 Heroes” was born. The next morning, the Republic of China flag was hoisted on a thirteen-foot pole atop the Sihang Warehouse. Since Yang Huimin had only delivered the flag without a pole, the defenders constructed a makeshift pole using two bamboo culms tied together, holding a flag-raising ceremony. Crowds gathered in the International Settlement, reaching up to thirty thousand in number, shouting “Zhōnghuá Mínguó wànsu!” (Long live the Republic of China). Japanese aircraft attempted to destroy the flag with strafing fire but were unsuccessful and were forced to retreat due to anti-aircraft fire. At noon, the IJA launched their largest offensive to date, attacking the warehouse from all directions with Type 94 tankettes and cannons. The 3rd NRA Company was pushed out of their defensive lines to the base of the warehouse and then further into the warehouse itself. The IJA's cannon fire chipped away at the warehouse structure, creating new firing ports on the windowless west wall. The Japanese attempted to scale the walls to the second floor using ladders. Xie Jinyuan was positioned near a window when two IJA soldiers managed to climb into the second floor beside him. He choked the first soldier to death and shot the other while kicking over the ladder they had used. The situation became dire as a platoon of IJA soldiers began placing explosives to breach the west wall. As the battle raged on, the IJA platoon continued planting explosives at the base of the west wall in an effort to breach it. When the Chinese defenders noticed what they were doing, 21-year-old Private Chen Shusheng, armed with a grenade vest, jumped from a second-story window onto the IJA platoon that was planting the explosives. His suicide attack killed himself and twenty Japanese soldiers below. The fighting continued until darkness fell, with waves of IJA soldiers storming the warehouse using armored vehicles. Ultimately, the IJA had to abandon their assault and began digging a tunnel towards the warehouse with an excavator. In response, posters emerged in the International Settlement, showcasing the movement of the IJA to the NRA. At 7 am, on October 30, the IJA recommenced their attacks, this time employing heavy artillery, firing approximately one shell per second throughout the day. The NRA responded by reinforcing the warehouse with additional sandbags. As night approached, the IJA utilized floodlights to illuminate the warehouse, allowing their artillery fire to continue unabated. Despite the overwhelming firepower, the defenders still managed to destroy some of the IJA's armored vehicles. The International Settlement exerted pressure on the IJA to cease the artillery fire, as it was dangerously close to their area. They informed the IJA that they would attempt to persuade the NRA to end their defense. A petition was sent to Chiang Kai-shek to stop the fighting for humanitarian reasons. By this point, the defense of the Sihang Warehouse had accomplished all its objectives. The NRA forces in Shanghai had successfully redeployed to more favorable positions in the rural west. Moreover, the defense of the warehouse had garnered significant attention from the Western world. Consequently, Chiang Kai-shek authorized a retreat. Chiang Kai-shek ordered the battalion to retreat into the foreign concession and to rejoin the 88th Division, which was now fighting in western Shanghai. A meeting was arranged with British General Telfer-Smollet and Yan Hu of the Shanghai Auxiliary Police to facilitate the retreat. The 524th Regiment would retreat to the International Settlement by crossing the New Lese Bridge. The 3rd IJA Division commander, Matsui Iwane, was notified of this plan and agreed, promising to allow the defenders to retreat unharmed, although he would ultimately not fulfill this promise. At midnight on November 1, Xie Jinyuan led the retreat of 376 men out of the warehouse and across the New Lese Bridge into the International Settlement. Ten NRA soldiers had been killed, and twenty-seven were too wounded to move; those soldiers volunteered to stay behind and man the machine guns on the rooftop to provide cover for the retreat. During the crossing, ten additional NRA soldiers were wounded by IJA sharpshooter fire. By 2 a.m. on November 1, the retreat was complete, marking the end of the defense of the Sihang Warehouse. After the battle, Xie Jinyuan reported that more than 100 Japanese troops had been killed by the defenders. General Sun Yuanliang stated, “Enemy corpses in the vicinity of Sihang Warehouse totaled approximately two hundred.” Xie Jimin claimed, “More than 200 enemy troops were killed and countless others were wounded. Two enemy tanks were also destroyed, and two more were damaged. The number of enemies was based on the daily counts obtained by observation posts.” The NRA suffered ten deaths and thirty-seven wounded, while the IJA incurred an estimated two hundred killed, along with several others wounded. However, a Japanese report indicated that after the SNLF 10th Battalion stormed the Sihang Warehouse, they found only 80 Chinese corpses. As of 2022, historians now estimate that 377 Chinese soldiers managed to retreat, suggesting that the actual death toll for the Chinese was likely around 33. The Battle of Shanghai was arguably unwinnable for the Chinese from the outset. It was only a matter of time before the Japanese would gain the upper hand due to their material and technological advantages. As the fighting dragged on, with the Japanese capturing stronghold after stronghold in the countryside surrounding the city, the immense toll exacted on the defenders led a growing number of Chinese generals to question the wisdom of clinging to a city that was ultimately destined to fall. They pushed for a more comprehensive withdrawal rather than the tactical retreat from Zhabei and Jiangwan that had already taken place. Otherwise, thousands more soldiers would die in vain. Moreover, there were serious concerns about morale taking a devastating hit, which could compromise China's ability to continue the fight. This was becoming a pressing issue. Chinese troops, who had initially entered the battle with an upbeat and patriotic spirit, gradually lost their fervor as casualties mounted in a seemingly hopeless battle. Once a division was reduced to one-third of its original strength, it was sent to the rear for reorganization and replenishment before being returned to the frontline. Most soldiers perceived the odds of survival as heavily stacked against them. Despite regular visits to the front, Chiang Kai-shek remained largely unaware of these grim realities. Officers who understood the true conditions in the trenches were also familiar with the supreme commander's stubborn nature and his determination to defend Shanghai to the bitter end. Given the circumstances, they felt it unwise to reveal the full truth to him. This charade could not continue indefinitely. In some units, the situation was deteriorating so rapidly that it became increasingly likely soldiers would simply abandon their positions. With mutiny looming as a possibility, senior commanders sought to persuade Chiang Kai-shek that a complete withdrawal of all Chinese troops from the Shanghai area to a fortified line stretching from Suzhou to Jiaxing, a city about 35 miles to the south, was the only viable option. In early November, General Bai Chongxi informed Chiang that the officers at the front could no longer control their men and that a pullback would serve as a face-saving measure, forestalling potential rebellion within the ranks. However, nothing they said seemed to impress Chiang Kai-shek. General Li Zongren, another officer who had previously attempted to advocate for a retreat, realized that arguing with the man at the top was futile. “War plans were decided by him personally, and no one else was allowed to say anything,” Li noted in his memoirs. Despite this, there were moments when Chiang appeared tantalizingly close to being swayed by the views of his lieutenants. As early as the first days of October, he seemed to favor a withdrawal from the front, only to reverse his decision later. A similar situation arose late in the month when Chiang called a meeting with his frontline commanders in a train carriage at Songjiang Railway Station, southwest of Shanghai. Before his arrival, the generals discussed the battle and concluded they could do little against the enemy's superior firepower. Upon Chiang's arrival, Zhang Fakui, the commander of the troops in Pudong, suggested moving ten divisions to prepared positions further in the rear, where defense would be easier than in Shanghai. The majority agreed with this proposal. At this point, Madame Chiang Kai-shek made her entrance, dressed in an expensive fur coat and fresh from a visit to the Shanghai front. “If we can hold Shanghai for ten more days,” she declared, “China will win international sympathy.” She was vague about the specifics but seemed to be referring to the upcoming Brussels conference. This declaration galvanized Chiang. “Shanghai must be held at all costs,” he asserted with firm conviction, as if that had been his sentiment all along. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. As Chinese troops retreated across Suzhou Creek, a small battalion under Colonel Xie Jinyuan held their ground, transforming the warehouse into a fortress. Despite fierce attacks, including artillery and tank assaults, they showcased unparalleled bravery. Reinforced by messages of support from locals, spirits soared. Amidst mounting casualties, they persisted until a strategic retreat was ordered. As dawn broke on November 1, Xie led the remaining troops to safety, leaving behind a legacy of valor that inspired future generations. Thus, the "800 Heroes" legend was born.

A richly imagined new view on the great human tradition of apocalypse, from the rise of Homo sapiens to the climate instability of our present, that defies conventional wisdom and long-held stories about our deep past to reveal how cataclysmic events are not irrevocable endings, but transformations. A drought lasts for decades, a disease rips through a city, a civilization collapses. When we finally uncover the ruins, we ask: What happened? The good news is, we've been here before. History is long, and people have already confronted just about every apocalypse we're facing today. But these days, archaeologists are getting better at seeing stories of survival, transformation, and even progress hidden within those histories of collapse and destruction. Perhaps, we begin to see, apocalypses do not destroy worlds, but create them anew. Apocalypse offers a new way of understanding human history, reframing it as a series of crises and cataclysms that we survived, moments of choice in an evolution of humanity that has never been predetermined or even linear. Here Lizzie Wade asks us to reckon with our long-held narratives of these events, from the end of Old Kingdom Egypt, the collapse of the Classic Maya, to the Black Death, and shows us how people lived through and beyond them—and even considered what a new world could look like in their wake. The more we learn about apocalypses past, the more hope we have that we will survive our own. It won't be pleasant. It won't be fair. The world will be different on the other side, and our cultures and communities—perhaps even our species—will be different too. Lizzie Wade is an award-winning journalist and correspondent for Science, one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals. She covers archaeology, anthropology, and Latin America for the magazine's print and online news sections. Her work has also appeared in Wired, The Atlantic, Slate, The New York Times, Aeon, Smithsonian, Archaeology, and California Sunday, among other publications. Gene-George Earle is currently a PhD candidate in Anthropology at East China Normal University in Shanghai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

GuestSeth Pinegar, West Coast Regional Director, The CFO CentreWebsitehttps://www.cfocentre.com/us/BioSeth has 25+ years' experience in helping companies successfully seed, develop, grow, finance, operate, strategize, execute, acquire, consolidate and/or enable investor exits – first with nearly a decade in TMT investment banking with JPMorgan and UBS Investment Bank, followed by Corporate Development and CFO roles in several successful technology and services companies. Since 2017 Seth has launched and run CFO Centre first in Shanghai, China and now the West Coast USA, having worked with dozens of clients to bring them the best of its global platform.A business-focused fractional CFO and adviser, Seth's work has included day-to-day operational work such as restructuring and leading Finance teams, to improving financial reporting and transparency, structuring and leading new business initiatives, operational restructurings and cost reductions, and directing company growth in a financially healthy and investor exit-friendly way.Seth has led over $7bn in equity and debt financings for companies in all stages of development, as well as structured and led M&A transactions (buy-side and sell-side) totaling over $5bn in aggregate value. Having done both numerous times at scale and involving sophisticated counterparties (i.e. institutional investors/lenders and publicly-traded companies), he has an acute awareness of requirements for successful deals, and thus provides exceptional strategic advice for optimizing numerous medium- and long-term outcomes.

A richly imagined new view on the great human tradition of apocalypse, from the rise of Homo sapiens to the climate instability of our present, that defies conventional wisdom and long-held stories about our deep past to reveal how cataclysmic events are not irrevocable endings, but transformations. A drought lasts for decades, a disease rips through a city, a civilization collapses. When we finally uncover the ruins, we ask: What happened? The good news is, we've been here before. History is long, and people have already confronted just about every apocalypse we're facing today. But these days, archaeologists are getting better at seeing stories of survival, transformation, and even progress hidden within those histories of collapse and destruction. Perhaps, we begin to see, apocalypses do not destroy worlds, but create them anew. Apocalypse offers a new way of understanding human history, reframing it as a series of crises and cataclysms that we survived, moments of choice in an evolution of humanity that has never been predetermined or even linear. Here Lizzie Wade asks us to reckon with our long-held narratives of these events, from the end of Old Kingdom Egypt, the collapse of the Classic Maya, to the Black Death, and shows us how people lived through and beyond them—and even considered what a new world could look like in their wake. The more we learn about apocalypses past, the more hope we have that we will survive our own. It won't be pleasant. It won't be fair. The world will be different on the other side, and our cultures and communities—perhaps even our species—will be different too. Lizzie Wade is an award-winning journalist and correspondent for Science, one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals. She covers archaeology, anthropology, and Latin America for the magazine's print and online news sections. Her work has also appeared in Wired, The Atlantic, Slate, The New York Times, Aeon, Smithsonian, Archaeology, and California Sunday, among other publications. Gene-George Earle is currently a PhD candidate in Anthropology at East China Normal University in Shanghai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

A richly imagined new view on the great human tradition of apocalypse, from the rise of Homo sapiens to the climate instability of our present, that defies conventional wisdom and long-held stories about our deep past to reveal how cataclysmic events are not irrevocable endings, but transformations. A drought lasts for decades, a disease rips through a city, a civilization collapses. When we finally uncover the ruins, we ask: What happened? The good news is, we've been here before. History is long, and people have already confronted just about every apocalypse we're facing today. But these days, archaeologists are getting better at seeing stories of survival, transformation, and even progress hidden within those histories of collapse and destruction. Perhaps, we begin to see, apocalypses do not destroy worlds, but create them anew. Apocalypse offers a new way of understanding human history, reframing it as a series of crises and cataclysms that we survived, moments of choice in an evolution of humanity that has never been predetermined or even linear. Here Lizzie Wade asks us to reckon with our long-held narratives of these events, from the end of Old Kingdom Egypt, the collapse of the Classic Maya, to the Black Death, and shows us how people lived through and beyond them—and even considered what a new world could look like in their wake. The more we learn about apocalypses past, the more hope we have that we will survive our own. It won't be pleasant. It won't be fair. The world will be different on the other side, and our cultures and communities—perhaps even our species—will be different too. Lizzie Wade is an award-winning journalist and correspondent for Science, one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals. She covers archaeology, anthropology, and Latin America for the magazine's print and online news sections. Her work has also appeared in Wired, The Atlantic, Slate, The New York Times, Aeon, Smithsonian, Archaeology, and California Sunday, among other publications. Gene-George Earle is currently a PhD candidate in Anthropology at East China Normal University in Shanghai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

A richly imagined new view on the great human tradition of apocalypse, from the rise of Homo sapiens to the climate instability of our present, that defies conventional wisdom and long-held stories about our deep past to reveal how cataclysmic events are not irrevocable endings, but transformations. A drought lasts for decades, a disease rips through a city, a civilization collapses. When we finally uncover the ruins, we ask: What happened? The good news is, we've been here before. History is long, and people have already confronted just about every apocalypse we're facing today. But these days, archaeologists are getting better at seeing stories of survival, transformation, and even progress hidden within those histories of collapse and destruction. Perhaps, we begin to see, apocalypses do not destroy worlds, but create them anew. Apocalypse offers a new way of understanding human history, reframing it as a series of crises and cataclysms that we survived, moments of choice in an evolution of humanity that has never been predetermined or even linear. Here Lizzie Wade asks us to reckon with our long-held narratives of these events, from the end of Old Kingdom Egypt, the collapse of the Classic Maya, to the Black Death, and shows us how people lived through and beyond them—and even considered what a new world could look like in their wake. The more we learn about apocalypses past, the more hope we have that we will survive our own. It won't be pleasant. It won't be fair. The world will be different on the other side, and our cultures and communities—perhaps even our species—will be different too. Lizzie Wade is an award-winning journalist and correspondent for Science, one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals. She covers archaeology, anthropology, and Latin America for the magazine's print and online news sections. Her work has also appeared in Wired, The Atlantic, Slate, The New York Times, Aeon, Smithsonian, Archaeology, and California Sunday, among other publications. Gene-George Earle is currently a PhD candidate in Anthropology at East China Normal University in Shanghai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/archaeology

Inspired by the new fast train between Shanghai and Beijing, Charles and Dom demand it's time for Australia to build a fast train between Sydney and Melbourne. Sure, it may be a gamble of an infrastructure project, but maybe that's exactly how we afford it.---Buy the Wankernomics book: https://wankernomics.com/bookListen AD FREE: https://thechaserreport.supercast.com/ Follow us on Instagram: @chaserwarSpam Dom's socials: @dom_knightSend Charles voicemails: @charlesfirthEmail us: podcast@chaser.com.auChaser CEO's Super-yacht upgrade Fund: https://chaser.com.au/support/ Send complaints to: mediawatch@abc.net.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3/4: China's Technology War: Why Beijing Took Down Its Tech Giants 1st ed. 2022 Edition by Andrew Collier (Author) 1908 SHANGHAI

On Saturday, July 26, three days after the Trump administration published its AI action plan, China's foreign ministry released that country's action plan for global AI governance. As the US pursues “global dominance,” China is communicating a different posture. What should we know about China's plan, and how does it contrast with the US plan? What's at stake in the competition between the two superpowers?To answer these questions, Justin Hendrix reached out to a close observer of China's tech policy.  Graham Webster is a lecturer and research scholar at Stanford University in the Program on Geopolitics, Technology, and Governance, and he is the Editor-in-Chief of the DigiChina Project, a "collaborative effort to analyze and understand Chinese technology policy developments through direct engagement with primary sources, providing analysis, context, translation, and expert opinion." Webster attended the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai.

Shanghai holds the global title for the most office space. And yet, vacancy rates are high. So why is one of the world's busiest cities pushing to renovate hundreds of office buildings? From old elevator systems to shifting urban priorities, this move prompts a fresh rethink of what office space means in the post-pandemic world. / Round Table's Happy Place (14:27)! On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Gao Junya

This week, a viral video of a robo-traffic-cop in Shanghai has the team contemplating the science of traffic. How do traffic jams with no discernible cause actually form? Does the weather experience traffic jams? And why do our cords also seem to get tangled in their own little cord-traffic-jams no matter how hard we try to keep them separate?Christine Yohannes from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Tristan Ahtone in Helsinki, Finland, join Marnie Chesterton to discuss all this, plus many more Unexpected Elements.Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Christine Yohannes and Tristan Ahtone Producers: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and Lucy Davies

On this week's Just the Tip, we're ranking every Disney Park from Shanghai to Paris and beyond, giving the pros and cons of each park. We're rating each on them and atmosphere, rides and attractions, uniqueness, food and "Disney magic”- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Shop:⁠⁠⁠ Trip Itineraries ⁠⁠⁠⁠&⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠, and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Preview: PRC: Colleague Charles Ortel comments on the failure of PRC manufacturing to demonstrate health worldwide. More. 1940 SHANGHAI

This week on Sinica: On my final two days in Shaxi in Yunnan, Chris Thomas and Stephanie Li, the hosts of the marvelous YouTube channel Chinese Cooking Demystified, joined me for some cooking and lots of chatting about food! We recorded this show together and focus our conversation on their heroic attempt at a taxonomy of different Chinese cuisines. We don't talk about all 63 that they identify, but we do get into their04:31 - Flavors of Yunnan 08:44 - On balancing between the “exotic” and “normal” China 11:53 - The origin story behind “Chinese Cooking Demystified”14:56 - The Breath of the Wok (Wok Hei, 鑊氣 / huo6 hei3)21:05 - A Comprehensive Taxonomy on Chinese Cuisine 32:25 - Correlations between dialects and cuisine 37:15 - Efforts behind the work39:09 - Promoting local specialties44:23 - Chinese identity and food trends52:30 - "Minority" cuisine in Yunnan01:00:52 - Yunnan cuisine and the Chinese hipster generation01:05:52 - Dali dish recommendationsRecommendations: Chris & Steph: Shunde Lao Baby, Pin Nuo, Lao DongbeiKaiser: Taking time off to do something you love!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.