How Shanghai became a safe harbour for Jews

During the late 1930s, Shanghai emerged as an unlikely refuge for around 18,000 European Jews escaping Nazi persecution. Chinese diplomat Dr Ho Feng Shan, then serving as Consul General in Vienna, courageously issued thousands of visas to Jewish families, allowing them to flee Austria after the Nazi Anschluss of 1938. At a time when most countries had closed their borders, his actions gave desperate refugees a path to safety in the war-torn Chinese port city.

The story, rediscovered through the research of his daughter, journalist Ho Manli, highlights the intersection of Chinese humanitarianism and Jewish survival during the Holocaust. Shanghai’s open-door policy—despite occupation and war—saved countless lives and became a symbol of moral courage amid global indifference.

Read Original Article: China Daily
Image credit: Courtesy Ho Manli / Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum