Abstract
Shanghai never ceased to exert a strong fascination, from the "Paris of the East" of the late nineteenth century to today's showcase of China's economic power. It has also become a global symbol of the "prowess of capitalism" and of cosmopolitanism, as a huge revenge on China's turbulent contemporary history. However it is a well-known fact, notably among many academics in urban studies, that such Asian "mega cities" in general are not easy to study. Indeed, for those who consider that size still matters, a term has been coined to designate cities with a population over ten million people : "mega cities". According to Scott, Shanghai can even be considered a "major global city-region" (Scott, 2008). With a total population exceeding 17,8 million inhabitants and 23,7 million taking into account the whole municipality, it is now the largest city proper in the world. Shanghai is also a peculiar city in the sense that it has never been a "classic (Chinese) city", due to its relatively late development in the 13th century and the fact that, in spite of its size, it has never been an imperial or a political capital. Hence our willingness to study Shanghai's urban development. However, which model should be used to make sense of this fascinating, but elusive city?
