By Xiong Yuezhi

　　MORE than 30 years ago, US President Richard Nixon's "ice-breaking journey" to China brought forth the Shanghai Communique and the easing of Sino-US tensions. Following in his footsteps, Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush also visited Shanghai as part of US foreign policy strategy.

　　Compared with the visits of those three presidents, the trip to Shanghai by US President Ulysses Simpson Grant (1822-85) in the 19th century seems to have been of less political importance but managed to endow itself with more historical spice.

　　Although he had been Commander-in-Chief of the US army during the American Civil War (1861-65) and elected to two terms as US president (1869-77), Shanghainese in the late 1870s knew little about President Grant. He was the first US president (albeit not in office at the time) to visit Shanghai and his trip was almost a century ahead of Richard Nixon stepping off Air Force One in 1972.

　　After retiring from the presidency in 1877, Ulysses Grant started his travels around the world. He went by sea to Europe, Africa, India, Hong Kong and Shanghai with his family.

　　At the time, Shanghai was under the administration of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) officials and the authorities of the so-called foreign concessions occupied under the unequal treaties following the Opium Wars.

　　The two groups of administrative authorities seldom combined to welcome the same guest. However, Ulysses Grant was an exception to that rule as he was the most significant foreign guest Shanghai had ever received in the 19th century. He was given a grand reception by the Chinese, British, French and Americans in Shanghai.

　　When the ship carrying Grant and his party arrived in the Wusong River, they received a 21-gun salute. Next came a welcoming ceremony in a warehouse at Jinliyuan Dock since there was no special place for honoured guests back in those days.

　　On his way by horse-drawn carriage to the American Embassy in Shanghai, an episode occurred which gave a touch of comedy to President Grant's arrival.

　　The horses pulling the carriage suddenly took fright for no apparent reason, snapped the traces and bolted off, startling both the hosts and their guest of honour.

　　Finally, soldiers from the foreign concessions had to pull President Grant's carriage through the streets. Officials and the tens of thousands of spectators who lined the roads applauded the graceful demeanour of the American president.

　　When night fell, all the gas lamps in the concession areas were lit and turned the darknesssintosbright day. Lights formed the words: "We Offer Congratulations to Grant."

　　During his six days in Shanghai, President Grant made the most of his time, visiting many places of interest. On one occasion he even went by sedan chair - specially prepared for him - to the Yuyuan Gardenswhereshe was warmly entertained by Liu Ruifen, the circuit intendant of Shanghai.

　　Grant's visit also aroused attention of the Shenbao and the Universe Gazette, two of the best-known newspapers of the day in Shanghai, which printed articles about Grant's life and the US political system.

　　Shenbao even printed 10,000 pictures of Grant to give to readers as a gift when they bought a newspaper.

　　(The author is from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences)