Every Russian heart begins to beat faster when it sees a piece of Russia abroad. In Shanghai, at the intersection of Yue Yang Lu and Fen Yang Lu in the French Concession, a monument to the great Russian poet A.S. Pushkin was erected in 1937 to mark the centenary of his death. This was the only monument to a foreigner in Shanghai, created at the initiative of the local Russian community.

Every significant place has its own story, and this monument is a silent witness to the presence of Russians in Shanghai during the 1930s and 1940s. After the October Revolution, thousands of White émigrés from Russia flocked to China, managing to preserve their culture, language, and customs while far from their homeland.

In February 1937, the Russian community in Shanghai decided to celebrate the centenary of Pushkin's death with grandeur by erecting a monument in an area where many Russians lived. The Pushkin Committee selected six designs, and by combining the best features of these, a group of Russian architects and artists led by M.N. Pavlovsky created the monument for free. It blended beautifully into the urban landscape in a section provided by the French concession, which later became known as Pushkin Square.

The anniversary events began at the end of January 1937 with a concert, a prayer service at the St. Nicholas Cathedral, and creative evenings, culminating in the unveiling of the monument on February 11. The bronze bust of Pushkin on a tall pedestal faced Russia, with the dates and the poet's name engraved in several languages. This corner became a favorite resting place for Shanghai residents, where families and lovers would meet.

The monument survived the Japanese occupation, becoming a symbol of resistance. People brought flowers here, but in 1944, the Japanese authorities demolished it, and the bust was melted down. After Shanghai was liberated, the idea of restoring the monument emerged. A committee led by I.M. Rogov raised funds, and specialists from Moscow restored the bust based on surviving sketches. In October 1947, the monument took its place in Shanghai once again.

Years later, with the return of émigrés to Russia, Russian Shanghai disappeared. The Cultural Revolution of 1966 destroyed the monument once more. After that, the people of Shanghai appealed to the government for its restoration. Chinese sculptor Gao Yun Long and his team recreated the bust based on their vision of Pushkin, without original documents.

In the summer of 1987, the monument was reopened, now with the poet facing south, as is customary in Chinese tradition. Today, Shanghai is unimaginable without this monument, which delights not only Russian tourists.