CHINKIANG-NANKING
226
POST OFFICE-IMPERIAL CHINESE
Postal Officer--W. A. Washbrook
Agency
Assistant do. --L. J. da Silva, P. Bahr
園公英大
** Ta-ying kung-yüan
RECREATION FUND
Committee H.B.M. Consul, chairman
Municipal Council (Trustees
ex
officio), F. Gregson, J. M. Moorhead
(hon. treasurer), E. G. Byrne (hon. secretary)
昌順
Shun-ch'ang
SCHIELE & BYRNE, Merchants and Ship-
ping Agents: Tel. Ad. Rhine
W. E. Schiele
E. G. Byrne
Agencies
Manchester Assurance Company
Royal Insurance Company
Nippon Sea and Land Insurance Co. Manufacturers' Life Insce. Co., Canada Melchers & Co.
Lee.kong
STUBBE & WENTZENSEN, Merchants
C. Stubbe
J. Wentzensen (Shanghai)
T. W. Bowern
General Marine Insce. Co., Dresden
和瑞 Sui-ho
STARKEY, E., Commission Agent
局報電國中
Chung-hinh-dien-to-chuck
TELEGRAPHS-IMPERIAL CHINESE
Luh Chang-Kong, manager C. L. Pang, controller
C. Y. Wong, clerk-in-charge
Tai-chang
WADLIEGH & EMERY, General Commission
Merchants
E. C. Wadliegh (New York) D. A. Emery
Yu Ching and others
Agencies
Arnhold, Karberg & Co.
Palatine Fire Insurance Company Equitable Life Assurance Soc. of U.S.A. Eastern Manufacturing Company
WU CHOU SHAN BUNGALOW
Trustees H.B.M. Consul and Com-
missioner of Customs
NANKING
I Kiáng-ning
The city owes its present name, “Southern capital,” to having been many times the capital of the Empire, the last occasion being in the Ming dynasty at the commencement of the 15th century. It is also known as Kiang Ning Fu, being the chief city of the prefecture of Kiang Ning, and the seat of government for the provinces grouped under the designation of Kiang Nan. In official documents it is not considered proper to call the city Nanking, since the Government acknowledges but one capital. Besides Kiang Ning Fu, an elegant Chinese name commonly used is Kin Ling or golden mound." From the 5th or 6th century B.C. to the present there has been a walled city at this place. Nanking was specified in the French Treaty of 1858 as one of the Yangtsze ports to be opened to trade, but was not formally opened until May, 1899.
44
Nanking is situated on the south bank of the Yangtsze, 45 miles beyond Chinkiang and 205 from Shanghai. From the river little can be seen of it except the long line of lofty grey brick walls which encircle it. The walls have an elevation varying from 40 to 90 feet, are from 20 to 40 feet in thickness, and 22 miles in circumference. They enclose a vast area, a large portion of which is wilderness or cultivated land. The inhabited portion lies towards the south and west, and is several miles from the banks of the river. Whatever of architectural beauty or importance belonged to Nanking perished or was reduced to a ruinous condition at or before its occupation by the Taiping rebels. The world famous Porcelain Tower, the most beautiful pagoda in China, was completely destroyed during this period of its history, and now only broken and scattered bricks remain of the structure that was once the glory of Nanking. It stood outside the walls on the south side of the city. The celebrated mausoleum of the Emperor Hung Wu, founder of the Ming dynasty (who died in 1398), with other tombs and monuments, known as the Ming Tombs, are just outside the eastern walls. There are many other interesting ruins in or near the city, including the remains of Hung Wu's Palace. Nanking was first brought into notice among Europeans in 1842, in
Page 700Page 701
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.