Directory_and_Chronicle_1927 — Page 686

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MUKDEN

reported, but these crops suffered badly in 1923, and the working of the local Sugar Refining Company was curtailed in consequence. Rice-farming, also, is on the increase, there being some 10,000 acres under cultivation in the Mukden and Sinmin districts. The requirements of the local cotton mill have given an impetus to the growing of cotton in the Liaoyang and Chinhsien districts. The Government Arsenal, which is still being extended, is the largest in China. It is situated east of the city and covers over a square mile of ground.

Most of

Mukden is situated in slightly undulating country a few miles north of the Hurtho, 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 35 feet high and 15 feet wide on the top, pierced by eight gates, two on each side, which formerly had high towers above them, but only the one

over the "Little West Gate" now remains. 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. the big yamên and Government buildings were erected in 1908. Throughout the city a great deal of building has been going on during recent years and the main roads have been macadamized. In 1920 new houses were built by the Standard Oil Co., the British-American Tobacco Co., and the Banque Industrielle de Chine. Actually miles of new houses-good-looking red-brick structures are springing up, and the Railway Settlement is fast being linked up with the Chinese business quarter. Work is in progress on buildings for a north-eastern University on a site to the south-east of the Imperial North Tomb. At two points of junction of three main streets, and therefore not quite in the middle of the city, are placed two towers called the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, respectively. The street between these towers is the principal busi- ness street of Mukden, and in it are situated all the most important shops and banks. The whole of the main streets were reconstructed and re-metalled during 1907-08. The streets and many shops are lighted by electricity, the use of which has spread with remarkable rapidity. The Mukden Electric Light Works recently completed the installation of a new 2,500 k.w. plant, which practically doubled its capacity and is now contemplating further additions. On December 1st, 1920, a long-distance Japanese telephone service was inaugurated between Mukden and Antung. Ac- cording to the census taken by the police in 1920, the Chinese population was returned as 219,750. It is now (1926) estimated at 300,000. There are about 12,000 Japanese in the city, suburbs and Japanese Settlement and some 1,250 other foreigners, mostly Russians.

In August, 1923, a Chinese Municipal Office was inaugurated to control municipal affairs in Mukden city and suburbs (excluding the mart Settlement area, which continues under the control of the Land Office); its functions comprise upkeep and light- ing of roads, issue of building and other permits, collection of various taxes and fees, and the management of primary schools. With improved roads, motor traffic is on the increase, there being 97 cars now registered in Mukden.

Nurhachu, the founder of the Manchu dynasty, established himself at Mukden in 1625, and his tomb (the Tungling, Eastern tomb), about seven miles east of the city, is an object of great interest. The great mound and funeral hall are enclosed within a high wall pierced by one large gateway which holds three arched portals, and the avenue of approach is spanned by two lofty stone arches elaborately sculptured. Two massive couchant lions guard the portal. Nurhachu's son is buried at the Peiling (Northern tomb), about four miles to the north of the city. The tomb is similar in arrangement to the Tungling. There are many other objects of Manchu historical interest in the town and its vicinity. Accommodation for foreign visitors is at present somewhat limited. There are, however, two fairly good hotels in the Japanese Settlement the Yamato Hotel, run by the South Manchuria Railway Company; and the Miyako Hotel.