A500
LUNGCHOW
established by the Emanuel Mission in the suburbs outside the East Gate having been removed to Hong Kong since February, 1930. The Consulate, Cus- toms buildings and Missionary Church were completely looted and badly damaged during a Communist uprising in February, 1930. Through the prompt action on the part of the Kwangsi troops under General Wei Yun Tsung to restore peace and, order in the district towards the end of 1930, the city of Lungchow, though practically deserted after the communist uprising, has gradually returned to its former prosperity, with a large population and a number of new shops. The trip up from Nanning usually takes from three to four days, and that down to Nanningabout 30 hours, according to the water in the river, the level of which is liable to very sudden fluctuations during the rainy season of July and August. It has been known to rise as high as 75 feet, when the iron. suspension bridge across the river is only two feet above the flood. Motor boats carry most of the cargo from and to. West River ports, whilst frontier trade is carried by small junks and rafts, and by carts on the overland routes which usually travel in convoys of some number as in Tonkin. The River scenery between Lungcliow and Nanning with its succession of gorges and rapids is well worth seeing but accommo- dation for Europeans on the motor boats is not of a luxurious type though each vessel has one special cabin for official travellers. The climate of the port is damp and very hot for some eight months of the year, but the winter is cold enough to be very pleasantamid such picturesque surroundings.
TRADE IN 1933
Lungchow being situated in the south-west corner of the province of Kwangsi, its foreign trade is chiefly with Tonkin, the frontier being some 45 kilometres distant where crossed by the motor highway. The value statistics for foreign commerce are insignificant, but may be quoted for a better understanding of the amount of trade carried on at this frontier station: direct foreign imports, 57,000 dollars as against 67,000 in 1932; direct exports of Chinese produce to foreign countries, 119,000 dollars as against 71,000 in 1932. Domestic movements of cargo through the Customs are of even less significance, especially now that the usefulness of Lungchow as a distributing centre has been dispelled by the opening of motor roads that serve the surrounding districts direct from Nanning. It will be seen from the above figures that the foreign import trade declined during the year. In the interests of economy, only commodities unobtainable elsewhere, like cunao and timber, were purchased from Tonkin. Exports did better, and there was a good demand in French Indo-China for silk piece goods, cotton piece goods, cotton yarn, pigs, paper, samshu, and rubber shoes. Peacefulness in the frontier districts, and the waiving by the Chinese frontier authorities of their right to demand passports from Annamites crossing the border for temporary trading purposes, did much to encourage export transactions.
DIRECTORY
BIBLE CHURCH MEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY
FRENCH HOSPITAL
Dr. Ch'en Ting-wok
福州龍 Lung chow kuan
CUSTOMS, CHINESE MARITIME
Assistant-in-charge-Chen Shao
Clerk-Ho Shun Kin
FRENCH CONSULATE Cable Ad: Fransulat,
Longtcheou
P. A. Simon, Consul for Longtcheou
& Nanning with residence
Longtcheou
J. V F. Tseng, Chinese Clerk
局郵等二州龍
POST OFFICE (CHINESE)
Shu Kwan Luen, postmaster
ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION
in
Rev. Fatlier G. P. Caysac, Societe des
Mission Etrangeres de Paris