Directory_and_Chronicle_1919 — Page 896

NANNING

*# Nan-ning

The port of Nanning, declared open to foreign trade on the 1st January, 1907, is situated on the left bank of the Tso-Kiang, one of the branches of the West River, 368 miles above Wuchow and about 195 miles below Lungchow, the frontier port on the Tonkinese border. It lies in the centre of a wide fertile plain in a sharp bend of the river, which there describes nearly two-thirds of the arc of a circle. It is a hsien city and is the seat of the Military and Civil Governors of Kwangsi Province. Below the walled city and adjacent to the lower suburbs is the site which has been set apart for a Settlement; it occupies the only spot near the city which is above high- water mark. The regulations do not allow the purchase of land on the Settlement site, but merely its lease for 30 years, which period may be extended on expiry for another 30 years. Foreigners desiring to lease land must apply through their Consul.

The net value of the trade of the port advanced from Hk. Tls. 1,544,000 in 1907 to Hk. Tls. 5,385,478 in 1910, but dropped to Hk. Tls. 4.700,517 in 1911. The value of trade during 1917, when domestic politics and financial stringency were once- again the prime factors affecting all business interests, was Hk. Tls. 6,999,366 as compared with Hk. Tls. 7,151,523 in 1916. The weakening tendency of prices rendered business in the principal articles of export extremely difficult and the year was also a discouraging one for importers. Shipping profits were indistinct, but in spite of the unremunerative character of freights, and the dearness of materials, new capital was sunk in the building of new boats, communications having been still further improved by the placing of three new motor boats on the Wuchow-Nanning run. The bulk of the carrying trade is now done by these motor boats, of which there is a fleet of 26- plying regularly throughout the year between Wuchow and Nanning and everything points to the fact that at last supply has overtaken the demand. The round trip can be made by motor boat from Wuchow in five to six days as against the journey by junk which takes about twenty days on the upward trip only. The only Europeans residing at Nanning at present are missionaries and the Customs staff, and one foreign firm.

Nanning is, next to Wuchow, the most important port on the West River. The site selected for the foreign settlement covers a very extensive area and is situated where the old city formerly stood, about a mile distant from the present walled city. The continued development of the city has necessitated the erection of the usual small houses and on practically every side of the city new shops have been opened and streets are being laid out. Work on the highroad leading from the North Gate to Wa Ming, where General Lu Jung-t'ing, Inspector General of the Two Kuangs has a large country seat, progressed during the year, and it is expected that this road, which is to be 120 li long, will be completed before the close of 1919. The building of the New West Gate and the important structural alterations and improvements in its vicinity have furnished profitable labour all round the district and contractors are said to have enjoyed a very acceptable spell of activity.

It is only to be expected that enhanced prosperity together with an influx of officials and well-to-do merchants consequent on the transfer of the capital from Kueilin, and a general spread of civilisation, should engender a desire to adopt a state of life similar to that enjoyed in other parts of the republic in closer touch with western ideas.