Shanghai Tai Chi

Shanghai Tai Chi by Hanchao Lu, published by Cambridge University Press on May 11, 2023, is a comprehensive exploration of urban life in Shanghai under socialism. This edition, comprising 354 pages, presents a rich social and political history of one of the world’s most intricate cities. Lu delves into the experiences of various societal groups, including capitalists, intellectuals, women, and youth, using the metaphor of Tai Chi to illustrate their adaptations to the Maoist political culture that emerged after 1949.

Readers will find an in-depth examination of everyday life and material culture during Mao’s China, highlighting the persistence of bourgeois lifestyles amidst a new proletarian regime. The book addresses significant themes such as the achievements of intellectuals in a climate of anti-intellectualism, the enjoyment urban youth found in reading forbidden literature, and the rise of women’s liberation alongside the politics of greening and horticulture. Shanghai Tai Chi offers a vivid portrayal of history as experienced on the streets and back alleys of Shanghai, providing insights into the complexities of social dynamics during this transformative period.