This paper first reviews the development of community education in Shanghai, one of China's eastern coastal cities. Then the development of community education in the Xuhui District of Shanghai, especially its management system and operational mechanisms, school operating systems and networks, curriculum systems, and team building are presented. Finally the basic issues of community education in this district are summarised. Xuhui District, located in south east Shanghai, is one of the central districts of the city and includes 13 streets (towns). It has a total area of 54.76 square kilometres and a resident population of 1.06 million. It was named after a farm founded in the Ming Dynasty (400 years ago) by the famous Chinese scientist, Xu Guangqi. Xuhui District is considered to be the birthplace of modern Chinese education. In 1850, the Xuhui Public School (currently named Xuhui Middle School) was initiated, and the Qiming Ladies' School (currently named No. 4 Middle School) was the first Chinese Western-style school founded, and was the first Chinese school for women. For a hundred years, education has been greatly developed. It can be said that the activities of community education especially prevailed in the 1980s when it inherited the tradition of attaching great importance to education. Based on the brief review of the longitudinal development process of Shanghai's community education, this article will mainly emphasise and give a cross-sectional view of the present situation of community education of the Xuhui District, and conclude with a summary of its basic developmental issues.