Abstract:

 Modernization is a process of the redistribution and strategic adjustment of global resources. As far as Shanghai is concerned, after it obtains the minimum qualification and identity for urban competition, it opens for itself a channel to modern international resources dominated by Western civilization. Shanghai is able to become China' s contemporary metropolis that possesses the highest level of internationalization and urbanization, just because, in its every critical moment of development, it can absorb the philosophy, wisdom and spirit of the time, which is essential for China and the world. In every important phase, it is directly related to different forms of axial intelligence. Shanghai' s cultural center, which is established from its beginning to 1930s, is a cultural pattern of being most worthy of attention and study for further understanding how China' s civilization is melted into a new axial age of globalization. In the confliction between the East and West, the ancient and modern, Shanghai completes successfully a new spiritual awakening and creates a unique culture form, thus, in the modern abyss full of blood and fire, life and death, exploring a way of life and acting as a pioneer for China' s being admitted into the world' s civilization system of new axial age. And Shanghai, in the new axial age, opens directly the modern lifestyle and aesthetic taste. Shanghai' s cultural spirit and life style, in the aspect of promoting the transformation of China' s traditional values, daily lifestyle and aesthetic taste, can not be compared by any other regional culture in modern China.