Directory_and_Chronicle_1918 — Page 744

MANCHURIAN TRADE CENTRES

In addition to Mukden, the Treaties made with China in 1903 by the United States and Japan secured the opening of Antung and Tatungkow in Manchuria. By an additional agreement made between China and Japan in December, 1905, the following inland places in Manchuria were opened to trade on the dates specified :-September 10, 1906, Tieh-ling, Tung-chiang-tzu and Fakumen; on October 8, Hsin-min Fu; on December 17, Manchuli, Harbin, Ch'ang-ch'un (K'uan-ch'êng-tzu) and Kirin; on December 19, Tsitsihar (Pu-k'uei), the capital of the northern province of Hei-lung- chiang; and on June 28, 1907, the remaining seven places Fêng-huang-ch'êng (T'ing) Liao-yang, Ninguta, Hun-ch'un, Sansing, Hailar and Aihun-were declared open as a preliminary step prior to the adoption of special settlement regulations. Only at Harbin and Antung are Foreign Consulates established.

MUKDEN

陽瀋 Shên-yang, formerly Fêng-tien

(Mukden is the Manchu name.)

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 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 When peace was concluded and the troops were withdrawn the trade possi- bilities of the province began to receive increased attention.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 European 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