The former Nanshi District, literally "southern city", was the historical core of Shanghai.

It included the old, walled city as well as the nearby docklands on both sides of the Huangpu River.

Shanghai County was established at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty.

From this reference was later derived the name Nanshi (Chinese: 南市; pinyin: Nánshì; Shanghainese: Nuezî; lit.

Upon the defeat of Japan at the end of World War II, a unified municipal administration was established over urban Shanghai for the first time since the mid 19th century.