From the end of Shang Dynasty to the beginning of Zhou Dynasty, wuyue gradually formed in today's Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, and dominated in the Spring and Autumn Period. Before "Taibo Ben Wu" in 1 1 century BC, this area had reached a high level of civilization. Archaeological discoveries in Majiabang culture period and Liangzhu culture period over the past half century can prove this point. However, in the cultural history of China, the Wu-Yue culture, which originated before the Six Dynasties and existed in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, has not yet formed the core values with distinct unity and systematicness. Until the early Six Dynasties, the people of wuyue were still brave and good at fighting. Compared with the Central Plains, the backwardness of Wuyue culture is obvious. However, as far as the overall character is concerned, there are details in the rough, which is the remarkable feature of Wuyue culture at that time. From the jade unearthed in Liangzhu culture period, the jade and bronze unearthed in the tombs of Wu in the Spring and Autumn Period, it can be seen that the people of wuyue have aesthetic psychology and practical creativity.

From the Six Dynasties to the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the female characteristics of the gentry and their pursuit of softness, beauty and tranquility changed the aesthetic orientation of Wuyue culture and gradually injected "the spirit of the gentry and the temperament of the literati" into it. From the Southern Song Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the culture of Wu and Yue became weaker and more refined. With the germination of industry and commerce, the culture of Wu and Yue has added consumption characteristics and luxury habits in addition to its softness and exquisiteness. In the heyday of Qing, Kang and Gan, Suzhou and Hangzhou became a paradise in people's minds. During this period, whether it is economy, science and technology, education, academic thought, literature and art, it has become the symbol of this culture reaching its peak and leading in the country, and its influence has continued to this day. Since modern times, with the national economic center and southern cultural center gradually shifting to Shanghai, "Shanghai culture" has been more and more accepted and absorbed by people. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai culture has experienced many twists and turns under special circumstances, but its spirit and concept have been stubbornly inherited and developed. The so-called Shanghai culture does not refer exclusively to Shanghai culture, but should be regarded as the inevitable result of the development of Wuyue culture in modern times on the basis of profound historical accumulation. What it marks is that a cultural form with Shanghai as the leader and axis should cover the Yangtze River Delta today, and its influence far exceeds the scope of this region.

Since the reform and opening-up, Shanghai-style culture rooted in the Wu and Yue cultural traditions has been increasingly infused with the spirit of the times and endowed with new connotations of the times. The whole Yangtze River Delta has become a vibrant hot spot. The Sunan model and Wenzhou model are closer to Qi Fei, the sudden emergence of township industries and the prosperity of small towns, and the successive emergence of Zhangjiagang spirit, Kunshan Road, Xiaoshan spirit and Yiwu phenomenon cannot be caused by isolated accidental factors. From the cultural inheritance and renewal in this area, it is not difficult to find realistic footnotes. With the deepening of Pudong's development and opening up, Shanghai's position as the leader of the Yangtze River Delta is becoming more and more stable. The integration of the Yangtze River Delta is not only an objective requirement for further economic and social development, but also an urgent call for barrier-free interaction and common prosperity of regional cultures. In this situation, Shanghai culture must constantly surpass itself with a broader mind and more conscious initiative, so as to give full play to its cultural leading, controlling and radiating functions on a broader historical stage.