A92
·
MUKDEN
!
Mukden is situated in slightly undulating country a few miles north of the Hunho, a tributary of the river Liao, about 250 miles north of Dairen, and is the junction for lines radiating to Dairen, Shanhaikwan, Harbin and Antung. The Chinese city stands four square, each side being 2,334 li long but it is not absolutely north and south. It is walled. The inner town, which is nearly a mile square. is protected by a stone wall 35 feet high and 15 feet wide on the top, pierced by eight gates, two on each side, which formerly had high towers above them, but only the one over the "Little West Gate" now remains, and the inner face of the wall is greatly dilapidated. A smaller wall encloses the ancient palace, which stands in the centre of the inner city, like the palace at Peiping. There are four main streets, which cross east and west, north and south, from gate to gate. Adjoining the station of the South Manchuria, Railway is the former Japanese Railway Settlement which was taken over from the Russians after the war. The total area of this Settlement was over 2,000 acres, and it has been developed of late years into a town of spacious squares and wide streets. East of the Japanese Settlement is the Settlement formerly set aside for the foreign residential and business quarter. Throughout the city a great deal of building has been going on during recent years and the main roads have been macadamized. Actually miles of new houses-good-looking red-brick structures are springing up, and the Railway Settlement is now linked up with the Chinese business quarter. The North Eastern University, occupying a site to the south-east of the Imperial North Tomb was completed and opened in 1926 but has remained closed since the 1931 incident. Important shops and banks are situated both in the Japanese Railway Settlement and between that Settlement and the walled city. The streets and shops are lighted by electricity, the use of whcih has spread with remarkable rapidity. The Mukden Electric Light Works completed in 1930 the installation of a new 2,500 k.w. plant, which practically doubled its capacity and further additions have since been made. On December 1st, 1920, a long-distance Japanese telephone service was inaugurated between Mukden, Antung and Hsinking and there is now a service between Mukden and Peiping and Mukden and Harbin. Air services are maintained with other parts of the country and are connected services to Japan. The estimated total population in August 1937 was about 600,000, and is rapidly growing.
With improved roads within the city, motor traffic has made tremendous strides during the last year or two.
Nurhachu, the founder of the Manchu dynasty, established himself at Mukden in 1625, and his tomb (the Tungling, Eastern tomb), about seven miles east of the city, is an object of great interest. The great mound and funeral hall are enclosed within a high wall pierced by one large gateway which holds three arched portals, and the avenue of approach is spanned by two lofty stone arches elaborately sculptured. Two massive couchant lions guard the portal. Nurhachu's son is buried at the Peiling (Northern tomb), about four miles to the north of the city. Both the tombs can be reached by motor car from Mukden. The tomb is similar in arrangement to the Tungling. There are many other objects of Manchu historical interest in the town and its vicinity. Mukden possesses good but limited hotel accommodation for foreign visitors. The large Yamato Hotel, built by the South Manchuria Railway, was opened in the Spring of 1929. golf course was opened in 1938 near Tungling.
A new 18 hole