Directory_and_Chronicle_1917 — Page 838

MUKDEN

Shên-yang, formerly

(Mukden is the Manchu name.)

Feng-tien

Mukden, formerly the capital of Manchuria, is now the capital of the province of Fêng-t'ien . It was the ancient seat of the late dynasty of China. Though

天奉. nominally opened to international residence and trade by the Commercial Treaties concluded by the United States and Japan with China in 1903, it was not really opened until 1906, for in the Russo-Japanese war the city became one of the strongholds of the Russian forces, from which, however, they were eventually driven by the advancing Japanese army after one of the most decisive battles of modern times. When peace was concluded and the troops were withdrawn the trade possi- bilities of the province began to receive increased attention. The principal trade of Mukden has been in grain, such as beans and millet; it has also been a curing centre for furs and has a considerable trade in bristles. Considerable indirect business has been done with the city in Europcan textiles and hardware, sugar and kerosene oil.

Mukden is situated in slightly undulating country a few miles north of the Hunho, a tributary of the river Liao, about 110 miles north-east of the port of Newchwang and has stations on the Chinese Government Railway and the South Manchuria Railway 1 miles to the west of the city. The city stands four square, each side being 2:334 li long, but it is not absolutely north and south. It is doubly walled The outer wall, which is circular and built of mud, encloses the suburbs and is 13 miles in circumference; the inner town, which is a mile square, is protected by a stone wall thirty-five feet high and fifteen wide on the top, pierced by eight gates, two on each side, with high towers above them. A smaller wall encloses the ancient palace, which stands in the centre of the inner city, like the palace at Peking. There are four main streets, which cross east and west, north and south. from gate to gate. Mukden has four railway stations. Adjoining the station of the South Manchuria Railway is the large Japanese Concession, or Railway Area, which was taken over from the Russians after the war. The total area of this Settle- ment is about 1,500 acres. Between the mud wall and the Japanese Concession is the Settlement set aside for the foreign residential and business quarter. Most of the big yamên and Government buildings were erected in 1908, and throughout the city a great deal of building has been going on during recent years. The new buildings are nearly always in semi foreign style, and hardly a street retains a purely Chinese appearance. At two points of junction of three main streets, and therefore not quite in the middle of the city, are placed two towers called the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower respectively. The street between these towers is the principal business street of Mukden, and in it are situated all the most important shops and banks. The whole of the main streets were reconstructed and re-metalled during 1907-08. The streets and many shops are lighted by electricity, the use of which has spread with remarkable rapidity. According to the census taken by the Japanese Consular police the population in November, 1915, was 177,957, comprising 175,491 Chinese, 2083 Japanese, 206 Koreans and 177 foreigners. Nurhachu, the founder of the Manchu dynasty, established himself at Mukden in 1625, and his tomb (the Tungling, Eastern tomb), about seven miles east of the city, is an object of great interest. The great mound and funeral hall are enclosed within a high wall pierced by one large gateway which holds three arched portals, and the avenue of approach is spanned by two lofty stone arches elaborately sculptured. Two massive couchant lions guard the portal. Nurhachu's son is buried at the Peiling (Northern tomb), about 2 miles to the north of the city. The tomb is similar in arrangement to the Tungling. There are many other objects of Manchu historical interest in the town and its vicinity. Accommodation for foreign visitors is at present very limited. There are one or two small hotels in semi-foreign style inside the city; and the South Manchuria Railway Company have a first-class hotel in European style at their new railway station.

Mukden has long been an important centre of missionary activity.