Directory_and_Chronicle_1919 — Page 849

CHUNGKING-HANGCHOW

行銀興誠聚

YOUNG BROTHERS BANKING CORP., Bankers

and Financial Agents-Hsin Fêng Kai; Tel. Ad: Yangbrosco

C. S. Yang, director

787

YOUNG BROTHERS TRADING Co., Import

and Export Merchants and Commis- sion Agents-Hsin Fêng Kai; Tel. Ad: Yangbrosco

A. T. Pennecard, secretary

HANGCHOW

H thì Hàng-chau

Hangchow, the capital of the province of Chekiang, is situated 120 miles south- west of Shanghai, and 110 miles south of Soochow, on the Chien-tang River, at the apex of a bay which is too shallow for the navigation of steamers. The mouth of the river is, moreover, periodically visited by a bore, or tidal wave, which further endangers navigation. Haining is the best place for observing this famous bore, which is formed by the north-east trade wind heaping up the water of the Pacific on the China coast and causing enormous tides. Hangchow Bay is shaped like a funnel, and the mass of water rushing up, more and more concentrated as it advances, is sud- denly confronted by the current of the river. The momentary check causes the water to assume a wall-like formation; then, growing to a height of 15ft. at spring tides and gathering momentum with the immense pressure behind, forcing its volume into the comparatively narrow waterway, it tears past the sea-wall with a roar like thunder at a rate sometimes reaching 12 miles an hour. Before the Taiping rebellion Hangchow shared with Soochow the reputation of being one of the finest cities in the Empire on account of its wealth and splendour, but it was almost destroyed by the rebels. It has since rapidly recovered and is once more populous and flourishing, though it has not yet regained its former pitch of prosperity. The population is estimated at 600,000, although a census taken lately by the local Government gives a total a little below that figure. As a manufacturing centre Hangchow takes place even before Soochow. Its three great trades are silk weaving, including several kinds of crape and gauze, the production of fans of all kinds, the manufacture of scissors, and the making of thin tinfoil, from which are formed the imitation ingots of silver, burnt in such immense quantities by the Chinese. In addition, it sends out thread, string, colours, drugs, lacquer, and many other articles in small quantities. Coarse paper is also manu- factured. The communication by water with Shanghai is particularly good, and might be much improved with very little trouble by a small amount of dredging at Shihmen Che on the Grand Canal twenty miles from Hangchow. Ningpo, about 120 miles distant, can also be reached by boat from Hangchow with several tran- shipments: it is quicker to go via Shanghai. Hangchow was declared open to foreign trade on the 26th September, 1896, in accordance with the terms of the Japanese Treaty. Steam launches ply regularly to and from Shanghai and to and from Soochow with passenger boats in tow, making the trip in from 18 to 24 hours There are also three launches daily to Huchow and other places en route; also on Chien Tang river daily launches to Fuyang, Tunglu, Linpu, etc., started in 1912. is hardly any cargo carried by the latter between Hangchow and Soochow. launches go via Huchow and Nanzing and a service is also maintained between Keeling, Soochow and several inland places. The Hangchow-Shanghai companies formed a combination some years ago and have a monopoly of the trade.

Several attempts

There These

of outsiders to come in have always failed after a few trips. The railway, however, is proving a serious rival.

One of the sights of Hangchow is the famous western lake, dotted with islets crowned with shrines and memorial temples, and spanned by causeways joining. island to island. The general picturesque effect is heightened by temples, pagodas and similar monuments judiciously placed in effective spots, while the slopes of the hills bordering the lake on the west are bright with azaleas, honeysuckle, and peach-bloom, and clusters of bamboos, several kinds of conifers, the stillignia, camphor

26*