Directory_and_Chronicle_1912

MUKDEN

Mukden is situated in slightly undulating country a few miles north of the Hunho, a tributary of the river Liao, about 110 miles north-east of the port of New- hwang, and has a station on the Chinese Eastern Railway 14 miles to the west of the ity. The city is trebly walled. The outer wall, which is circular and built of mud, ncloses the suburbs and is 13 miles in circumference; the inner town, which is a mile quare, is protected by a stone wall thirty-five feet high and fifteen wide on the top; tis pierced by eight gates, two on each side with high towers above them; another wall ncloses the ancient palace, which stands in the centre of the inner city, like the palace t Peking. The streets of Mukden are broad and straight; and the city has the ppearance of being a busy place. The population is estimated at about 150,000. Vurachu, the founder of the Manchu dynasty, established himself at Mukden in 1625, nd his tomb, about seven miles east of the city, is an object of great interest. The great nound and funeral hall are enclosed within a high wall pierced by one large gateway hich holds three arched portals, and the avenue of approach is spanned by wo lofty stone arches elaborately sculptured. Two massive couchant lions guard he portal. There are many other objects of Manchu historical interest in the own and its vicinity. Accommodation for foreign visitors is at present very limited. There is a small hotel kept in semi-foreign style by Chinese called the Hai Tien hun. Recently two small hotels in foreign style have been opened inside the city-- he Astor House and Manchurian Hotel. The South Manchurian Railway Company ave recently opened a first class hotel in European style at their new railway station. Mukden has long been an important centre of missionary activity. The terms pon which the town is opened to international trade had not been definitely settled ip to the time of the publication of this volume. The Chinese wish to confine foreign aerchants, as regards residence and trade, to a certain area outside the west gate near he railway station. This has not been agreed to by the Treaty Powers concerned, nd Japanese and other foreign merchants are residing and trading within the town. Two vernacular newspapers are published in the city, the Sheng King Shih Poo and he Tung San Sheng Kung Pao. The four principal streets of the town are being nacadamised and a good road has been made to the railway station; great improvements lso are being made in police and sanitary measures as well as in the repairs of Government buildings and the walls of the town.

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