Shanghai began as Huating County, an administrative district established in
751 AD. The county, located in an area known today as Songjiang District, had
its boundary reaching today's Hongkou District in the north, Xiasha in the east
and the coast in the south. In 991 AD, Shanghai Town was set up in the county.
During the 1260-1274 period, the town evolved into an important trading port and
in 1292, the then central government approved the establishment of Shanghai
County in this area, which has been widely deemed as the official beginning of
the city of Shanghai.
