Shanghai Expatriates Win Magnolia Awards Including Citizenship

Twelve prominent foreign professionals living and working in Shanghai are the latest expatriates to receive the coveted Magnolia Gold Award.

Since the early days of Shanghai’s development into a thriving global city, it’s welcomed expats from across the world eager to help build its commercial and social infrastructure. Starting in 1989, the city fathers began awarding bronze Shanghai Gratitude Awards to foreigners who’d contributed to its development. Later renamed Magnolia awards for the flower engraved on the medals, the tradition continued and the Gold and Silver awards now represent a prestigious honour cherished by those who receive them.

In 1997, honorary citizenship was incorporated into the Gold award. Over the last 30 years, 1,216 expats from various sectors have received Magnolia Silver awards, and 332 have been granted Gold Awards. Of these, 44 expatriates have been granted honorary citizenship. Shanghai is now one of China’s most popular mega-cities for the ever-increasing numbers of expats who arrive looking to further their careers or start new businesses, helping the metropolis to become a truly international financial, economic, trade, innovation and shipping hub unimaginable before the ending of China’s disastrous Cultural Revolution.

Nowadays, foreign talent is appreciated and encouraged, as is friendship and integration into the city and its ongoing development. The goal is Shanghai’s position in the world as a 21st century, ecological, international socialist metropolis enjoying global influence and working along with its expatriate community for the benefit of all.