Directory_and_Chronicle_1910 — Page 764

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PEI-TAI-HO-CHINGWANGTAO-NEWCHWANG

settlements were wholly destroyed on and after 20th June, 1900. Most of the Tientsin and Peking laymen were then at West End; it had the advantage of proximity to the Hills and the Station, and had more pleasing scenery near at hand. Its demerits were a somewhat tame beach-nothing but sand-and inferior bathing. The latter is due to stinging medusæ or jelly fish, and to the nearness of the River Tai, which often discolours the water: both demerits have, however, been exaggerated. The missionaries were chiefly at Rocky Point; there they had an Association which regulated their land tenure, sanitation, Sunday observance, etc. A strong body of laymen settled to the west of this 'Association' settlement, attracted by the central position, better beach and bathing. The East Cliff was originally a mission investment, but in time became a general settlement. Some thirty or forty foreign visitors who were in residence when the Boxer cyclone burst were taken off by the boats of H.M.S. Humber, and conveyed to Chefoo in June: immediately after which the natives joined a small party of soldiers in first looting and then burning every house in the place. The natives carried off every scrap of the building material that was portable; even the bricks and dressed stone, and in some cases they actually dug up the foundations. Their action was due to greed and not to anti-foreign malice-as a matter of fact, they had always been on good terms with their foreign neighbours, to whose presence they entirely owed their prosperity. The I-Ho-Chüan or Boxer sect is not known to have had any following in the district. The people simply believed the foreigners were to be exterminated, and would never return; and in this belief resolved to resume possession of their lands and as much else as was possible. During 1901-2 the German forces encamped at Pei-tai-ho and made roads; a small gauge steam tramway was also constructed from the Railway Station to Rocky Point. In the early spring of 1902 many of the houses were rebuilt and during the summer quite a number of families were in residence for a short season. The rains are heavy in July and early August, but the sandy soil enables one to be out of doors at once after a heavy rain. The temperature varies from 4° to 10. below that of Peking and Tientsin in the height of summer; there are no hot winds, as the prevailing breeze is nearly south and is sea-borne. During the summer the number of visitors in residence are between 300 and 400, including several from Shanghai.

NEWCHWANG

莊牛 Niu-chwang Ying-tsz

Newchwang, in latitude 40 deg. 40 min. 38 sec. N., longitude 122 deg. 15 min. 30 sec. E. was opened to foreign trade in May, 1864, and was for more than forty years the only Treaty- port in Manchuria. Manchuria comprises the three Provinces of Fengtien, Kirin and Heilungchiang, and is commonly called by the Chinese the "Tung San Sheng "or the Three Eastern Provinces. Newchwang is situated in the most southern of these three pro- vinces-Fêngtien, also known as Sheng Ching-and lies about thirteen miles from the mouth of the Liao River, which empties into the Gulf of Liaotung, a continuation of the Gulf of Pechili. The proper name of the port is Yingkow, and not Newchwang, which is situated 90 li (30 miles) further up the river. The old town of Newchwang was designated by Treaty to be opened to trade, but the first foreigners finding Ying kow more conveniently situated, and more adapted in every respect for the purposes of trade, quietly installed themselves there and got over the difficulty by the simple process of changing the name of Yingkow into that of Newchwang!

The country in the immediate vicinity of the port is flat and unpicturesque in the extreme, and the town itself has nothing in the way of attractions for the traveller. The climate, from the foreigner's point of view, is one of the best in China, the sum- mers being comparatively cool, while the winters are cold and bracing. The hottest summer temperature rarely exceeds 85° (Far), but cold blasts from the North pull down the "mercury" in winter months often to 10° and 15° below zero (Far.). The river is generally frozen over for three months of the year, but navigation is practically suspended for four months, from December to the following April. Formerly Now