Introduction

This chapter analyses the evolution of Xiamen and the undertakings of overseas Chinese in the treaty port after they returned. It unravels the reason why Xiamen did not develop into an industrial and trading center a la Shanghai after its opening as a treaty port, then explores how it facilitated the mass movement of people in and out of the country. By examining the development of Xiamen, the mobility and identity of the emigrants, and the intricate relationships between the two — the chapter narrates the reason for the emigrants' return to Xiamen, and how the foreign experience affected their views of and relationships with the city. The chapter also pushes the boundary of Chinese history beyond China to incorporate a transnational perspective — that is, paying attention to how processes and relationships that have transcended the borders of China shaped the history of Xiamen — and complicates the familiar narrative of Chinese history by demonstrating the subjectivity of the emigrants and including the contributions of these traditionally marginalized people to China. In a way, Xiamen forces us to examine Chinese history and modernity beyond the boundaries of geopolitical China.