1935 Shanghai: Pioneering Psychiatry and Refuge for European Jewish Refugees

This exhibition delves into the story of Fanny G. Halpern, a neurologist trained in Vienna, who established China's first modern psychiatric hospital in Shanghai in 1935. It highlights Shanghai's role as a refuge for European Jews fleeing Nazi persecution.

The exhibition "1935 Shanghai" focuses on the pioneering work of Fanny G. Halpern, an Austrian neurologist who played a crucial role in the development of psychiatric care in China. Trained in Vienna and an assistant to Nobel laureate Julius Wagner-Jauregg, Halpern moved to Shanghai in 1933. In 1935, she founded the city's first modern psychiatric hospital, a significant achievement in a vast and developing nation. The narrative extends beyond medical history to encompass the humanitarian aspect of Shanghai during a turbulent period. As many Jewish families, including Halpern's, fled persecution in Europe, Shanghai provided a last refuge. The exhibition touches upon the experiences of thousands of individuals, particularly those from Austria, who survived the Shoah in this metropolis, illustrating a critical chapter of shared history between Europe and China.