Directory_and_Chronicle_1905

WUCHOW-FU If i t Wi-chau fu

Wuchow-fu, opened to foreign trade on June 4th, 1897, by the Special Article of the Burmah Convention, is situated on the Sikiang or West River at its junction with the Fu or Kuei (Cassia) River. By the steamer routes at present authorised it is distant about 220 miles from Hongkong and Canton. Wuchow is the limit of navigation for ocean-going steamers, but vessels drawing not more than five feet can reach Kueihsien (150 miles beyond) during eight months in the year; and Konghou (75 miles beyond) almost all the year round. The population of the city and suburbs is estimated at 50,000; it is steadily increasing, more especially in the riverine suburbs which comprise the business quarter. The annual inundations caused by the rise in the river-there is an average difference of 60 feet between the winter and summer levels are a source of great inconvenience to the inhabitants and at times bring about a total cessation of business. To obviate this, the principal steamship offices, the foreign Custom House and the native Customs and Likin stations, together with numerous shops and hotels, are located on pontoons (locally known as Pais) moored alongside the river bank. The situation of Wuchow makes it the natural distributing centre for the trade between Kueichow, Eastern Yunnan, Kuangsi, and Hongkong and Canton. The hopes that were entertained at its opening have not, it is true, been realised, chiefly owing to the depression of trade in these parts caused by the political disturbances in the Kuangsi province during the last few years. But once order is restored and the principal trade routes cleared of obstructions, Wuchow bids fair to become one of the principal trading marts in South Western China. The net value of the trade coming under the cogni- sance of the Foreign Customis in 1903 was Hk. Taels 8,267,124 as against Hk. Taels 6,585,374, in 1902, and Tls. 7,496,243, in 1901. Foreign imports (all from Hongkong) were in 1903 valued at Tls. 5,534,525, and exports at Tls. 2,627,591. The returns for the year 1904, indi- cate a considerable advance on the above figures. The principal articles of export are timber, oils (aniseed, cassia, wood and tea) indigo, hides and live stock. The coal which should form one of Wuchow's largest exports, still lies buried in the surrounding hills. There is daily steam communication with Canton, the two steamers of the British West River Steamship Co. affording excellent passenger accommodation. The round trip from Canton takes four days: the boat leaving Canton on Friday mornings remains over Sunday in Wuchow. The direct trade with Hongkong is now carried on by eight cargo steamers. During the last three years a large native passenger trade has sprung up between Wuchow and up-river towns: launches leave daily during the summer months for Konghau, Kuaiping and Kueihsien, and weekly for Nanning. The only local industry worthy of mention is boat-building; when the river falls the foreshore is lined with matsheds where native craft of all descriptions, from a huge salt junk to a diminutive sampan, are constructed. Wuchow itself offers few attrac- tions to the tourist, but the river scenery on the way up, especially between the Shui- hing and Takhing Gorges, where the stream winds in and out among the green hills to form a succession of apparent lakes, is extremely picturesque, and has not altogether unjustly been compared to the Rhine. Wuchow is connected by telegraph with Hong- kong, Shanghai &c.; and the Imperial Chinese Post has recently established postal communication with all the principal towns in Kuangsi.

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