Directory_and_Chronicle_1909 — Page 1142

WUCHOW

i ta Wi-chau

州梧

Wuchow, opened to foreign trade on June 4th, 1897, by the Special Article of the Burma Convention, is situated on the Sikiang or West River at its junction with the Fu or Kuei (Cassia) River. By the steamer routes at present authorised it is distant about 220 miles from Hongkong and Canton. Wuchow is the limit of navigation for ocean-going steamers; but, during eight months in the year, vessels drawing not more than 3 feet can reach Kueihsien (150 miles beyond), and Nanning (360 miles from here) can be reached by boats drawing 23 ft., and Konghau (75 miles beyond Wuchow), almost all the year round. The population of the city and suburbs is estimated at 50,000; it is slowly increasing, more especially in the riverine suburbs which comprise the business quarter. The annual 'inundations caused by the rise in the river-there is an average difference of 60 feet between the winter and summer levels-are a source of great inconvenience to the inhabitants and at times bring about a total cessation of business. To obviate this, the principal steamship offices, the foreign Custom House and the native Customs and Lekin stations, together with numerous shops and hotels, are located on pontoons (locally known as Pais) moored alongside the river bank. The situation of Wuchow makes it the natural distributing centre for the trade between Kweichow, Eastern Yunnan, Kwangsi, and Hongkong and Canton. The hopes that were entertained at its opening have not, it is true, been realised, chiefly owing to the depression of trade in these parts caused by the political disturbances in the Kwangsi province during the last few years. But once order is restored and the principal trade routes cleared of obstructions, Wuchow bids fair to become one of the principal trading marts in South Western China. The net value of the trade coming under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs has steadily grown from 4 to 10 milion Taels, and the Revenue is about half a million Taels. The principal articles of export are timber, oils (aniseed, cassia, wood and tea), indigo, hides, and live stock. The coal, which should form one of Wuchow's largest exports, still lies buried in the surrounding hills. There is daily steam communication with Canton, the two steamers of the British West River Steamship Co. affording excellent passenger accommodation. The round trip from Canton takes four days: the boat leaving Canton on Friday mornings remains over Sunday in Wuchow. The direct trade with Hongkong is now carried on by eight cargo steamers. During the last three years a large native passenger trade has sprung up between Wuchow and up-river towns: launches leave daily during the summer months for Konghau, Kuaiping and Kueihsien, and weekly two motor boats make re- gular, and five launches make irregular, trips to Nanning averaging three trips a week. The floods in 1902 were the highest on record, the water in the river rising to 68. 3." The lowest winter reading was 0.10 feet below zero in December 1906. In winter the only local industry worthy of mention is boat building; when the river falls the foreshore is lined with matsheds where native craft of all descriptions, from a huge salt junk to a diminutive sampan, are constructed. Wuchow itself offers few attrac- tions to the tourist, but the river scenery on the way up, especially between the Shui- hing and Takhing Gorges, where the stream winds in and out among the green hills to form a succession of apparent lakes, is extremely picturesque, and has not altogether unjustly been compared to the Rhine. Wuchow is connected by telegraph with Hongkong, Shanghai, etc.; and the Imperial Chinese Post has established postal communication with the principal towns in Kwangsi.