Directory_and_Chronicle_1901 — Page 613

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CHEFOO

CHEFOO

罘之 Chi-fau 臺烟 Yen-tai

Chefoo, in the Province of Shantung, is the name used by foreigners to denote this Treaty Port; the Chinese name of the place is Yentai, and Chefoo proper is on the opposite side of the harbour. Chefoo is situated in latitude 37′ 33′ 20′′ N. and longi- tude 121° 25′ 02′′ E. The port was opened to foreign trade in 1863. The number of foreigners on the

the books of the various Consulates is about 400, but more than half of them-missionaries-live inland. Chefoo has no Settlement or Concession, but a recognized Foreign Quarter, which is well kept and has good clean roads and is well lighted. A General Purposes Committee looks after the interests of the Foreign Quarter and derives the revenue at its disposal from voluntary contributions by residents. The natives are most orderly and civil to foreigners. There are three good hotels and at least three excellent boarding houses, all of which are full of visitors from July to the end of September. The climate is bracing. The winter, which is severe, lasts from the beginning of December to end of March; April, May and June are lovely months and not hot; July and August are hot and rainy months; and September, October and November form a most perfect autumn, with warm days, cool winds and cold nights. Strong northerly gales are experienced in the late autumn and through the winter, and the roadstead gives but an uncomfortable, though safe, anchorage for steamers. During the summer and autumn amusements are varied-sea bathing, lawn tennis, picnics, &c.-and there is a good club. The races take place towards the end of September. Chefoo is three days' journey from Shanghai, and in the summer tourist tickets from Shanghai and return are issued by the Indo-China S. N. Co., the China Merchants S. N. Co. and the China Naviga- tion Co. Since the declaration of war (August, 1894) between China and Japan the port has been much frequented by vessels of the different foreign navies, and its close proximity to Corea will cause these visits to be continued; the result is that Chefoo has become a coaling station and large stocks of Cardiff coal are kept to supply the foreign men-of-war, During the winter of 1894-95 the port was in a state of excitement owing to the close proximity of, and possible occupation by, the Japanese. In 1876 the Chefoo Convention was concluded at Chefoo by the late Sir Thomas Wade and the former Viceroy of Chihli, Li Hung-chang. The bunding of the western shore, recently carried out by the Chinese authorities, has removed many of the difficulties formerly attending upon the shipping business of the port. An enterprize has been recently established by a Wine Company of substantial standing; the soil of the locality lends itself to such an industry and the future success of the proprietors of the first Far Eastern wine growing concern is a matter of considerable interest. Chefoo in noted for its large and increasing fruit growing industry; supplying Shanghai, Vladivostock, Kobe and other Eastern ports with foreign fruits, which grow well with care and atten- tion in that part of Shantung-thenative fruit growers having received foreign instruction, so that which was at first a hobby is now a paying industry.

The trade of Chefoo, which is increasing, is principally in Beancake and Beans, of which large quantities are annually exported to the southern ports of China. In 1899 the net export of Beancake amounted to 1,051,617 piculs and of Beans to 47,868 piculs, as against 975,521 piculs of the former and 92,750 piculs of the latter in 1898. Silk, Strawbraid, and Vermicelli are the other chief exports. The import of Opium was 157 piculs compared with 3,536 piculs in 1879, the trade having gradually dwindled. The net value of the trade of the port for 1899, after deducting re-exports, was the highest on record, namely, Tls. 28,153,956 as compared with Tls. 26,238,774 for 1898, and Tls. 22,051,976 for 1897. A large export of Cattle, 2,561 head (principally oxen), valued at Tls. 70,000 took place in 1899, being brought from different parts. of the provinces, to be sold and shipped to Port Arthur and Vladivostock.