PEI-TAI-HO AND CHINWANGTAO
Chinwangtao owes its existence as a seaport to the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company, Ltd. (now amalgamated with the Lanchow Mining Company under the title of The Kailan Mining Administration). It serves primarily as port of ship- ment for Kaiping coal. It is situated on the western coast of the Gulf of Liau Tung and is distant about 10 miles W.S W. of Shanhaikwan. The breakwater and pier form- ing the harbour are so constructed that vessels may lie alongside at any state of the tide and in all weathers, discharging from or loading directly into railway cars, so that there is the minimum of handling and loss by breakage.
Accommodation for steamers is shown in the table:-
At Breakwater-
Depth at L.W.O.S.T.
in Feet
Berth No.
Length in Feet
3
320
23
4
320
26
5
380
28
6
380
28
7
420
28
At Pier-
1
380
21
2
350
18
The entrance at the time of writing (August, 1921) has a depth at L.W.O.S.T. of 24 feet, but the dredging operations now in progress are expected to give a depth of 26 feet in the near future.
Very complete arrangements have been made to insure rapid loading of coal at all times. Over 13,500 tons have actually been loaded on one day. For handling general cargo an equipment of locomotive cranes has been installed. Single lifts up to 7 tons can be dealt with. For heavier weights special arrangements can be made.
The harbour and the large coal storage yards are exceptionally well lighted by electricity, and work proceeds by night as well as by day throughout the year.
Good fresh water from the Tongho River may be obtained from hydrants on the Breakwater and Pier.
The Port of Chinwangtao, unlike Tongku, Tientsin, and other ports in the neigh- bourhood, is accessible throughout the year. While Tientsin is ice-bound the sea- borne trade of that city and of the territory which it serves passes via Chinwangtao. As a trade distributing centre, its position as an open port on the main line of the Peking-Mukden Railway gives it a great advantage.
Apart from its importance as a port Chinwangtao is noted as a seaside resort. For this its bracing climate, its sandy beach and its mountain scenery render it well suited, and the "Bluff" is a delightful site for summer residences, on which the Administration is prepared to lease plots for building purposes on liberal terms.
The Administration owns large areas of land in the vicinity of the port. A good harbour, good water, electric light, and cheap coal offer exceptional inducements for industrial enterprises, and it is expected that there will be a great development in this direction in the near future.
As a seaside health resort Chinwangtao is almost without rival in China. It is easily accessible, has a dry and bracing climate, offers safe bathing from a sandy beach, has good golf links, and is situated amidst magnificent scenery, while a hotel under experienced management and numerous summer bungalows afford the visitor every comfort. The great increase of trade year by year has induced the Chinese Maritime Customs to erect a fine Customs house at Chinwangtao, with a deputy commissioner in charge, and to open a Hai Kwan Bank for the convenience of local consignees. The total value of the trade for 1920 was Hk. Tls. 17,180,516, as compared with Hk. Tls. 15,700,440 in 1919, Hk. Tls. 12,234,400 in 1918, and Hk. Tls. 10,355,729 in 1917. The total number of vessels entered and cleared during 1920 was 2,134, with a total tonnage of 2,342,386.