Directory_and_Chronicle_1922 — Page 977

14

CHANGSHA

Chang-sha

Changsha ("Long Sands"), the capital city of Hunan, situated on the right bank of the Hsiang River about 100 miles South of Yochow, became a Treaty port under the China-Japan Commercial Treaty of 1903, a Customs House being established on 1st July, 1904. The surrounding country is hilly and very picturesque, affording delightful walks and picnics. Opposite to the city rises Yolushan hill to the height of about 800 feet. On it is a large stone tablet (Yu Pei) recounting the mastery of the floods that once covered an enormous tract of Central China. It was placed there by order of the Great Yü, founder of the Hsia Dynasty, B.C. 2205. (See Williams' Middle Kingdom, Vol. II., pp. 149-151.) The magnificent timber on the south of the hill, extending from the Yolushan High School, enclosing the Confucian and the Buddhist temples, and extend- ing to the Taoist temple at the top-whence a beautiful view to the South can be obtained-is well worth a visit from travellers. The school dates back many hundred years and was once one of the most famous in this land of scholars, and under its present excellent management it promises once more to do splendid work for the province. Among the cities of China, Changsha ranks only second to Chengtu; the fine buildings, well laid-out gardens, the wide and clean streets, and the good shops render a walk a pleasant experience.

There is an ice factory, with a capacity for turning out some 3,600 pounds of ice daily, and a fine hospital, the gift of a Yale University graduate, with accommodation for 120 beds. A notable feature of 1919 was the opening up of a branch of the Asia Banking Corporation on the bund, this being the first purely foreign bank to be established in Changsha. The volume of trade passing through the Changsha Customs House for the year 1920 was Hk. Tls. 32,973,476, an increase of Hk. Tls. 7,962,208 over that for 1919, and all in exports, which increased in valuation from Hk. Tls. 9,729,963 in 1919 to Hk. Tls. 17,044,046 in 1920. Foreign imports decreased by Hk. Tls. 214,092.

A number of foreign residences have been constructed by the Catholic Mission on Shui Lu Island, opposite the city. A new electric plant under native management and ownership has been completed, and an understanding has been reached between the new concern, the Kwang Hua Electric Light Company, and the existing Hunan Electric Light Company, whereby the latter supply current to the southern part of the city and the former to the northern districts with an extension to Sui Lu Island by means of a cable across the river in January, 1919. To improve communications in and immediately around the city and provide facilities for trade a fairly extensive scheme is under consideration, involving the ultimate levelling of the city walls, work on which has been started. The bund on the whole of its length from the Custom House to the Hsin Ho is also to be widened and the surface improved sufficiently to allow extensive wheeled traffic, while the large piece of land outside the North Gate between the Bund and the Railway is to be laid out as a business quarter.

Owing to its comparatively close vicinity to Wuchang, the cradle of the revolution, the city of Changsha quickly passed over into the hands of the New Party. This change was effected without practically any bloodshed, only the heads of the more important officials, refusing to join the Republicans, being sacrificed on the altar of Anti-Manchuism. The Governor, however, managed to escape in the nick of time. A most gratifying feature throughout this critical period was the extremely friendly, not to say courteous, attitude shown to foreigners.

The low level of the river during the winter months, preventing the regular steamers from plying for nearly three months, is an obstacle to trade. From the records it would appear that there is now more water over the shallows than was formerly the case, probably owing to the largely increased launch traffic preventing the accumulation of silt; therefore, it is not improbable that a regular towing system will be introduced before long to take the place of steamers during the winter. A short section of the Canton-Hankow railway, from Changsha to Chuchow-about 30 miles-was opened to traffic on 10th September, 1911. Work on the Changsha-Yochow- Hankow section of the Canton-Hankow railway is progressing favourably and is