The Revolution in China， resulting in the overthrow of theManchu Dynasty in 1911， was a turning point in the history of China，with far-reaching consequences.
Before speaking of the Revolution， and its effects upon Shanghai，we must refer briefly to some events of the earlier part of the year 1911.
First Aeroplane in ShanghaiThe interest of the residents was attracted to the advances madein the navigation of the air by some exhibitions of flying given inApril by M. Vallon at Kiangwan. His successful flight over Shanghaiin an aeroplane was considered at that time as a remarkable feat.
Unfortunately， this bold airman lost his 1ife the following month whilegiving an exhibition of fancy flying over the Recreation Ground duringthe Spring Race Meeting.
Celebration of the Coronation of King George V.
On June 22nd the coronation of King George V. was celebratedwith great enthusiasm. The ships in the harbour were dressed，solemn services were held in the churches， and sports were held onthe Recreation Ground. At night there were a torchlight procession，and fireworks. It was another occasion of the display of internationalgoodwill， as all Shanghai united in the festivities.
National Schools
This year also the development of national schools in Shanghai.
A German School was opened on April 23rd on Weihaiwei Road， anda French Municipal School for foreign children on Avenue Joffre onSeptember 25th.
Shanghai is a cosmopolitan city， and its residents sometimesrefer to themselves as “Shanghailanders.” Nevertheless， national spiritis strong， and parents able to afford it prefer to have their Childreneducated in schools where a national influence can be exerted. TheBritish led the way， as the Cathedral School from the beginning waspractically a national school. The Germans and French followed andlater， national schools were developed by Americans and Japanese.
A commission， appointed by the Shanghai Municipal Councilin 1910 to study the whole matter of education in the Settlement，rendered its report on June 16th， 1911. One of the questionsconsidered was that of assisting national schools by municipal grants.
On this point there was some difference of opinion， and the Counciladhered to its former Policy of helping only those schools open tochildren of all nationalities.
Golf
An undertaking of much interest to a large section of Shanghairesidents at this time was the decision of the Shanghai Golf Clubto lease land from the International Recreation Club at Kiangwan.
Hitherto golfers had been limited to a nine-hole course on theRecreation Ground within the Race Course， but the new agreementpermitted the laying out of an eighteen-hole course. To anticipatea little， the links at Kiangwan were formally opened on Saturday，November 30th， 1912， the President of the Club， Sir Haviland deSausmarez， at that time Judge of H. B. M."s Supreme Court for China，driving the first ball. Later， other golf courses were opened—one atHungjao in the western district， and another at Seekingjao， two milesbeyond the links at Kiangwan.
The Revolution
coming to the subject of this chapter， great excitement inShanghai was caused in October by the unexpected news of theoutbreak of a revolution in Wuchang， which had as its aim theoverthrow of the Manchu Dynasty.
There were many causes contributing to this violent upheaval，among which may be mentioned—the weakness and inefficiencyof the Regent， who guided the country during the minority of theyoung Emperor， Hsuan Tung， the poverty and distress caused by thecontinued famine in Central China， the plottings of secret societies，and the propaganda carried on by the emissaries of Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
Among the immediate causes were the unpopularity of the Four-
Nation Loan， and the policy of nationalizing the railways.
The Revolution broke out prematurely on October 9th， 1911.
This was due to the fact that by an accidental explosion， a secret bombfactory was discovered in the Russian Concession in Hankow， andthe revolutionists were forced to act quickly. They were supportedby public opinion and by a mutiny of local troops， and withoutencountering any determined opposition， gained control of Wuchang，Hankow， and Hanyang. General Li Yuan-hung was persuaded， againsthis own will， to put himself at the head of the movement. Troops weredespatched from the North to put down the uprising， and in the latterpart of October， Hankow was recaptured by the Imperialist forces， andpartly destroyed by incendiary fires. The fall of Hanyang followed， andit looked if the Revolution would be crushed in its cradle.
In the meantime， however， the movement spread throughout thecountry， and city after city declared its independence. Fourteen out ofthe eighteen provinces threw off the Manchu yoke.
Shanghai went over to the Revolution without any fighting onNovember 4th. The outward evidence was the sudden appearance ofwhite flags on all houses and shops， especially on Nanking Road.
Delegates gathered in Shanghai on November 22nd to take stepsfor the formation of a new government.
As an offset to the loss of Hankow and Hanyang， Nanking wascaptured， after severe fighting， by the revolutionary army on December1st.
The Manchu Government was obliged to recall Yuan Shih-kai，who had been living in retirement， as the one man strong enough tocope with the situation. It was finally arranged that a conference shouldbe held in Shanghai， and Tang Shao-Yi was appointed as representativeof the Peking Government with full powers. He arrived in Shanghai onDecember 18th， 1911， and the Peace Conference began. The principalrepresentative of the Revolutionary Government was Dr. WU Tingfang.
After long deliberations and contrary to the wishes of Yuan Shihkai，the chief demands of the revolutionary party were granted， and anational convention was summoned to meet in Nanking.