Directory_and_Chronicle_1909 — Page 1063

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NANKING

Nanking is situated on the south bank of the Yangtze, 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 uncultivated 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 tomba 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 which year the first British Treaty with China was signed here. During the Taiping rebellion no place suffered more. It was first taken by assault by the Taipings on the 19th March, 1853, and after sustaining a prolonged siege was recaptured by the Imperial forces on the 19th July, 1864, a fatal blow to the rebels.

Although Nanking has recovered to a small extent from the prostration which attended its ill-treatment during the rebellion, it has never yet attained any commercial importance, but a brilliant future is predicted for the port if the railway schemes are carried out. "A new and brilliant era," wrote the Commissioner of the Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs in his report for 1900, “should dawn upon the port of Nanking, on account of its excellent position as a terminus for the railways which will bring down the immense mineral and other wealth of the provinces of Anhwei, Honan, and Shansi. The distance from either Honan or Shansi is about the same to Nanking as to Hankow, and the engineering difficulties of a railway down to the river opposite Nanking are no greater than those of a line to Hankow. The great advantage, then, which should secure to Nanking its position as the outlet for these rich provinces is the fact of its being so much nearer the sea than Hankow and accessible to the deepest draught ocean vessels at all seasons of the year. It is therefore only natural that a line should have been projected from the mineral fields of Shansi to the village of P‘u-k‘ou, on the other side of the river to Nanking, as mentioned in the 1899 Trade Report. Yet another line, from the mineral district of Hsin-yan (1), in Honan, through Anhwei, with its terminus at P'u-k'ou, is also in contemplation. These two lines, if built, should revolutionise the commercial conditions at Nanking, while the line from Shanghai to Nanking should also give an impetus to commercial life." The railway from Shanghai to Nanking by the British and Chinese Corporation is now completed and work on its extension from Puk'ou, on the north bank of the Yangtsze under the joint enterprise of the above Corporation and the Peking Syndicate, has been commenced lately. Trains are running daily from Shanghai to Nanking and a short line has been completed connecting Hsiakwan, the port of Nanking, with the southern part of the city, a distance of 6 to 8 miles. During the past two or three years there has been 46

'quite an air of progress," especially in building, and quite a Western aspect is being given to the ancient Capital of the Mings, as the new government buildings are all in foreign style and so also are a growing number of shops and residences recently built for Chinese. The Naval College, a large pile of buildings, was opened in 1890. A. dozen teachers and instructors are employed, including two foreigners. The Nanking University was founded in 1888 by the Central China Mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is now an imposing and well-appointed school, with a large roll of scholars The Arsenal and Powder Mills, for many years in charge of foreigners, are now entrusted to native direction. They are situated just outside the South Gate. A macadamized road has been built from the steamer landing clear through the city to the Tung-Tsi Gate in the south wall, a distance of eight niles, and many similar roads in other parts of the city have been added during the last few years so that it is now posssible to go "almost anywhere" in carriages. The carriages and jinrickhas which have been introduced are much appreciated by the people. British, American and German Consulates were opened in 1900. As the seat of the viceregal government, and by virtue of its historic associations, Nanking is of import- ance, and will, no doubt, regain before long a degree of its lost prestige. The net value of the trade of the port for 1907 was Tls. 10,415,071 against Tls. 9,668,934 in 1906, Tls 10,573,545 in 1905, Tls. 8,826,048 in 1904, and Tls. 7,352,525 in 1903.