Directory_and_Chronicle_1924 — Page 1029

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

SAMSHUI

955

space is but half occupied by poor dwelling houses and one small street containing provision shops. Outside the North Gate stands an imposing temple, temp Chia Ching (circa 1800). Between the town and the river is a fine nine-storied pagoda, rebuilt during the Chia Ching reign, some 100 years ago.

The business focus of the district is Sainam, a large well-built town of no great antiquity, three miles distant, on the creek leading to Fatshan, where is established an electric plant which supplies Sainam and Samshui with light..

Two sets of steamship lines converge here from Canton and Hongkong, respec- tively, and tourists in China can do many worse things than visit the West River, which presents more beautiful scenery than is to be found on any steamer route in China-the Yangtsze gorges, perhaps, excepted. Since 1st May, 1905, Samshui has- been made a port of entry for foreign steamers going up the West River. Numerous steam launches carrying passengers or towing passenger-boats ply between Sam- shui and neighbouring cities on the West and North Rivers and on the creek leading to Fatshan and Canton. A railway line from Canton to Samshui via Fatshan was inaugurated on the 26th September, 1904, and five trains run daily each way between Canton and Samshui. The climate of the port is as healthy as any in the delta. In the summer, frequent squalls cool the air, and it is seldom that there is not a breeze of some kind; in winter, the air is keen, bracing and clear. The waterways and surrounding country are picturesque, and the adjacent heights offer pleasant walks. Excursions of one or two days enable one to climb Mt. McCleverty (2,000 ft.), at the mouth of the West River; or Ting Hu Shan (4,000 ft.), behind the celebrated temple known to foreigners as "Howlik," near which is to be found the popular bathing pool and fall; or the hills forming the first gorge, from which used to be quarried the famous ink-stone known throughout China as Tuan Yen. Perhaps the most interesting of the sights in the neighbourhood are the Seven Star Hills, which are situated close to the pleasant town of Shiu Hing, some 30 miles from the port. These hills, formed of pure white marble rising to a height of about 400 feet from the plain, hold many temples-some apparently clinging to the sides of the cliffs and caves and grottoes. The fine bronze figures of more than life-size in one of these temples are well worthy of attention. Fair snipe shooting is to be obtained in the winter, and an occasional pheasant, partridge, quail or duck may be added to the bag. The attractions of good sport and pleasing surroundings have made Samshui a week- end resort for some of the Canton community confined to the small island of Shameen.

The telegraph and postal services have agencies at the port; a nice building for the Post Office, situated alongside the road leading from the railway-station to the stone jetty, was completed and opened to the public on September 9th, 1921. There are no Consulates established; the Consuls within whose districts Samshui lies reside either in Canton or Hongkong.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1924 — Page 1029

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