NANNING
甯南 Nan-ning
The port of Nanning, declared open to foreign trade on the 1st January, 1907, is situated on the left bank of the Tso-Kiang, one of the branches of the West River, 368 miles above Wuchow and about 195 miles below Lungchow, the frontier port on the Tonkinese border. It lies in the centre of a wide fertile plain in a sharp bend of the river, which there describes nearly two-thirds of the are of a circle. It is a hsien city and is the seat of the Military and Civil Governors of Kwangsi Province. Below the walled city and adjacent to the lower suburbs is the site which has been set apart for a Settlement; it occupies the only spot near the city which is above high- water mark. The regulations do not allow the purchase of land on the Settlement site, but merely its lease for 30 years, which period may be extended on expiry for another 30 years. Foreigners desiring to lease land must apply through their Consul.
The net value of the trade of the port advanced from HK. Tls. 1,544,000 in 1907 to Hk. Tls. 7,985,856 in 1920, but fell to Hk. Tls. 4,903,334 in 1921. The last few years have been characterised by uncertainty and irregularity in trade, owing to the disturb- ed political conditions. In consequence of the difficulty of obtaining imported piece- goods, there has been an increased demand for native cloth, and a number of new factories have been erected. The home and inland demand for this cloth has always been steady. As regards exports, depression in many branches has been acute for some considerable time. The Asiatic Petroleum Co. have a large motor supply boat running between Wuchow and Nanning during the high-water season. The possibility of the development of the aniseed oil business has not been lost sight of by the provincial authorities, who have planted nearly 2,000,000 trees at Kaufengyel, 80 li north of Nanning. Some 250,000 wood-oil trees have also been planted and there would seem to be a fair possibility of the plantation proving successful. The attention of various local commercial associations has also been drawn to the cultivation of cotton, and the formation of experimental stations has been begun. The bulk of the carrying trade is now done by motor boats, of which there are over 40 plying regularly throughout the year between Wuchow, Nanning, and inland to Lungchow and Poseh, and every; thing points to the fact that at last the supply has overtaken the demand. The round trip can be made by motor-boat from Wuchow in five to six days during the high-water season, as against the journey by junk, which takes about 20 days on the upward trip only. The only Europeans residing at Nanning at present are missionaries, the Customs staff, and the representatives of three foreign firms.
Nanning is, next to Wuchow, the most important port on the West River. The site selected for the foreign settlement covers a very extensive area and is situated where the old city formerly stood, about a mile distant from the present walled city. The continued development of the city has necessitated the erection of the usual small houses, and on practically every side of the city new shops have been opened and streets are being laid out. Work on the high road leading from the North Gate via Wu Ming, to Szengen, a distance of 255 li, has been completed with a fairly smooth prepared surface. House-building is very active. Outside the south gate there is a selected site for a large cluster of new houses, and in many of the city arterial thoroughfares land is being developed by private enterprise. The Settlement Bund, which was built in 1907 by an inexperienced Chinese contractor, has fallen into ruins, and now, in some places, only about 10 feet separates the frontage of foreign properties from the edge of the river bank. The Chinese authorities, upon whom the upkeep of the Bund devolves, are consulting as to what steps should be taken to repair the damage already done and to prevent the encroachments of the river during future flood seasons, but, with an empty treasury, it is to be feared that little, if anything, will be done.
The political unrest in the province has put a stop, for the present, to any progress in Western ideas. The few motor-cars belonging to highly placed officials which were once here have entirely disappeared. Some half-a-dozen delapidated rickshas still remain. The work on the two main roads-the one towards Wuchow and the other towards Lungchow-has long since ceased, and such parts as were completed are fast falling into disrepair In order to obtain a wholesome water supply the authorities have sunk several artesian wells, but the projected water-works is still in abeyance. With peace restored within the province these undertakings will be proceeded with. Electric light is supplied by a local company.
Given peace, there are great possibilities for this port. The natives are not adverse to progress, but the foreign capitalist is required to stimulate them and direct their ideas into new channels.