Directory_and_Chronicle_1927 — Page 962

WUCHOW

ghi đôi Wi-chau

Wuchow, opened to foreign trade on June 4th, 1897, by the Special Article of the Burmah Convention, is situated on the Sikiang or West River at its junction with the Fu or Kuei (Cassia) River. By the steamer routes at present authorised it is distant about 220 miles from Hongkong and Canton. Wuchow is the limit of navigation for ocean-going steamers; but, during eight months in the year, vessels drawing not more than 3 feet can reach Kueihsien (150 miles beyond Wuchow), and Nanning (360 miles from here) can be reached almost all the year round by boats drawing 24 ft. The population of the city and suburbs is estimated at 50,000; it is slowly increas- ing, more especially in the riverine suburbs, which comprise the business quarter. The annual inundations caused by the rise in the river-there is an average difference of 60 feet between the winter and summer levels-are a source of great inconvenience to the inhabitants and at times bring about a total cessation of business. To obviate this, the principal steamship offices, the Custom House and likin stations, together with numerous restaurants, are located on pais (houses built on pontoons), moored alongside the river bank. In July, 1924, Wuchow was visited by a very high flood- 73 feet 9 inches-which is the second highest on record. In winter the only local industry worthy of mention is boat building; when the river falls the foreshore is lined with matsheds, where native craft of all descriptions are constructed. The situation of Wuchow makes it the natural distributing centre for the trade between Kweichow, Eastern Yunnan, Kwangsi, and Hongkong and Canton. The future is full of promise, and Wuchow is sure to make a bold bid for second place as the largest trade mart in the south of China. Local merchants are making strenuous efforts to divert to Wuchow, via the Liuchow and West Rivers, the trade of south-eastern Kweichow, which is principally supplied via the Yangtsze. Attempts are being made to work the manganese, antimony, copper, and tin mines which abound in the Kwangsi Province. The gross value of the trade coming under the cognisance of the Maritime Customs had steadily grown to Tls. 23,237,078 in 1920, but subsequently, owing to frequent military operations and the disturbed state of the country, the trade diminished to Tls. 11,952,197 in 1922, this being the smallest figure on record since 1908. The value of trade recovered to Hk. Tls. 17,485,294 in 1923 and Hk. Tls. 21,030,247 in 1924, but owing to the boycott of Hongkong, in 1925 it fell again to Hk. Tls. 17,181,474. The principal articles of export are manganese ore, antimony, timber oils (aniseed, cassia, groundnut, wood and tea), indigo, hides, live stock and firewood. The coal, which should form one of Wuchow's largest exports, still lies buried in the surrounding hills. There is daily steam communication with Canton and Hongkong, maintained by Portuguese, British and Chinese steamers, some of which are manned by foreign officers, and have first-class passenger accommodation. During the last few years a large native passenger trade has sprung up between Wuchow and up-river towns, and a fleet of motor boats make regular trips to Konghau, Kuaiping, Kueihsien and Nanning. Wuchow itself offers few attractions to the tourist, but the river scenery on the way up, especially between the Shiuhing and Takhing Gorges, where the stream winds in and out among the green hills to form a succession of apparent lakes, is picturesque and has been compared to the Rhine. Wuchow is connected by telegraph with Hongkong, Shanghai, etc.; and the Chinese Post has established postal communi- cation with the principal towns in Kwangsi. In 1922 the Maritime Customs completed the erection of seven new buildings to accommodate the whole of their staff. These houses, some of which are three storeys high, are constructed of ferro-concrete in the most up-to-date style. They are brilliant examples of modern tropical buildings, and are the chief architectural feature of Wuchow.

The year 1924 has seen much systematic effort toward municipal improvement. A local Board of Public Works was inaugurated early in the year, with a competent engineering and surveying staff. Much creditable work was accomplished in spite of set-backs by flood and fire and the hampering effects of political and financial