This book focuses on the specific period of Shanghai's transformation from a traditional county town to a modern metropolis, with the development of folk charity as its main theme. For the first time, it systematically traces the historical development process of folk charity organizations in Shanghai and provides a classified description of the main charitable activities in the local community. It showcases how local gentry, merchants, and elites in Shanghai adapted traditional charitable ideas and philanthropic culture to meet the challenges of unprecedented changes, while also incorporating Western philanthropic thoughts and practices. Actively participating in urban construction and promoting Shanghai's urbanization process, they made significant contributions to the development of modern Shanghai.

本书立足于上海从传统县城向近代大都市转化这一特定时期， 以民间慈善事业的发展为主线，首次系统梳理了上海民间慈善组织产生以来的历史发展过程，并对上海民间慈善界的主要慈善活动进行了分类叙述，展现了上海地方绅商和精英们在面临三千年未有之变局的大背景下，改进传统慈善理念、慈善文化以适应新的局势，同时吸收西方慈善思想与具体做法，积极参与都市建设，推进上海都市化进程，为近代上海的发展作出了积极贡献。