FOOCHOW
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turesque, and has been compared to some of the scenes on the Rhine. The Yung Fu, a tributary of the Min, also affords some charming scenery, the hills rising very abruptly from the river bank. The Min Monastery, the Moon Temple, and the Kushan Monastery, all occupying most romantic and beautiful sites, are fine specimens of Chinese religious edifices, and are much resorted to by visitors. Game abounds in all the ravines and mountains in the vicinity of Foochow, while tigers and panthers are common in the more remote hills, and some of these beasts have been killed within ten miles of the city.
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Foreign vessels are compelled to anchor at Pagoda Island, owing to the shallow ness of the river. The limits of the port of Foochow extend from the City Bridge to the Kimpai Pass. The Mamoi Arsenal, near Pagoda, Anchorage, an extensive Govern ment establishment, was bombarded by the French on the 23rd-24th August, 1884, and reduced to partial ruin, but was restored. The establishment was, later reorganised, and was for some years administered by French experts. There is a dock in connec tion with the Arsenal on Losing Island. The dock is over 300 ft, long and has very powerful pumps and a good steel caisson. The Fukien Christian University, moved into its new quarters, just below Kushan Point, at, the end of 1921. The site com prises some 50 acres of hill and plain. The object of the University is to provide cheaper education for Chinese on Western lines and in more congenial surround- ings than are to be had abroad. In June, 1900, the port was visited by the most disastrous floods known there in living memory, the river, rising through heavy rains, overflowed and deluged the country, sweeping away villages and causing immense havoc and loss of life. The Chinese population of Foochow was estimated at 388,164 in 1929.
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TRADE IN 1931.
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Early in the year the Kiangsi communist forces crossed over into the already bandit-ridden province of Fukien and succeeded after a time in threatening the port of Foochow The troops sent to defend the border between the two provinces suffered --severe losses at first, but were eventually successful in gradually driving the opposing forces, estimated, to number anything up to 20,000 men, westwards towards the border, until atthe end of July the "red" armies were reported to have been forced clear of the province. This improvement in the situation remoyed the stranglehold on the trade routes in the west, and after a short lapse of time goods were able to circulate freely. Traffic on the Min River to Yenping was open to the trans- port of goods during most of the year under review. This river being the main trade of the province, the better conditions along its course were reflected in the larger returns recorded for the movement of many items of local produce. The boycott, of Japanese goods began in July at Foochow, and became more intense, during August and the succeeding months, until at the end of the year only very small quantities of Japanese imports were trickling in. Net foreign imports increased by 1.2 million Haikwan taels as measured 1: silver values, representing a deeline, however, if measured an
in gold at the average exchange rates for 1930 and 1931 respectively. There was a serious decline shown in the value of direct exports to foreign countries. The figures, however, are misleading for the reason that a reduction in the value placed on softwood poles and planks by the Customs accounts for most of the differ- ence, the exports of these staples bulking largely, in the trade of Foochow. The export statistics for tea would appear to indicate a slight improvement in this important section of the trade of the port. The Government. Mint closed down in Oetober after minting subsidiary silver coins to the value $300,000. Work continued throughout the year on a road construction scheme embracing five principal provincial highways and numerous branch roads. Of a total length of 4,025 li of main roads, 1,165 i have been completed, and of 3,198 ls of branch roads planned, 2,257 l are already available for motor traffic. The Wan Shou Bridge connecting Toochow with, Nant'ai Island, which has been under construetión since December 1930, was opened to traffic in October.
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The net value of the trade of the port coming under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs was Hk. Tls. 47,004,629 in 1931, as compared with Hk. Tls, 43,312,381 in 1930, Hk. Tls. 52,533,576 in 1929 and Hk. Tls. 49,264,752 in 1928,
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