Directory_and_Chronicle_1930 — Page 949

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

CHINKIANG-NANKING

887

It' 拱葉

KIRKBY-GOMES, DR. S. G., M.D., F.R.C.S.,

L.R.C.P., Medical Officer of Health and

Medical Officer H.B.M. Consulate-

10, Canton Road; Teleph. Cent. 6679

MISSIONS

會老長南國美

Mei kwok nan chang lao wei

AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN MISSION,SOUTH

S. C. Farrior and wife

Dr. J. B. Woods, jr., M.D.

Miss Charlotte Dunlap, R.N.

Rev. C. H. Smith and wife

MITSUI BUSSAN KAISHA, LTD. (Mitsui &

Co., Ltd.)-Tel. Ad: Mitsui

S. Matsuda

POST OFFICE

Acting Deputy Postal Commissioner

-Wu Tao

路鐵甯滬 Hu ning teh loo

SHANGHAI-NANKING RAILWAY

Mei foo

STANDARD OIL CO. OF NEW YORK-Telephs.

115 (Office) and 116 (Installation); Tel. Ad: Socony

Hsu Ting, in-charge

J. J. Robertson, installation supt.

TEXAS CO., THE, Petroleum Products--

Tel. Ad: Texaco

T. C. Hwang

NANKING

篝江

Kiáng-ning

The city owes its present name, "Southern capital," to having been many times the capital of the Empire, the last occasion being in the Ming dynasty at the commencement of the 15th century. Nanking is also known as Kiang Ning Fu, being the chief city of the prefecture of Kiang Ning, and the seat of government for the provinces grouped under the designation of Kiang Nan. Besides Kiang Ning Fu, an elegant Chinese name commonly used is Kin Ling or "golden mound." From the 5th or 6th century B.C. to the present there has been a walled city at this place. Nanking was specified in the French Treaty of 1858 as one of the Yangtze ports to be opened to trade, but it was not formally opened until May, 1899. In July, 1915, Pukow, the southern terminus of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway (lying across the river from Nanking), was opened to foreign trade as a branch office of the Nanking Customs.

Nanking is situated on the south bank of the Yangtsze, 45 miles beyond Chinkiang and 193 by rail or 215 by water from Shanghai. From the river little can be seen of it except the long line of lofty grey brick walls which encircle it. The walls have an elevation varying from 40 to 90 feet, are from 20 to 40 feet in thickness, and 22 miles in circumference. They enclose a vast area, a large portion of which is wilderness or uncultivated land. The busiest portion lies towards the south and west, and is several miles from the banks of the river. Whatever of architectural beauty or importance belonged to Nanking perished or was reduced to a ruinous condition at or before its occupation by the Taiping rebels. The world-famous Porcelain Tower, the most beautiful pagoda in China, was completely destroyed during this period of its history, and now nothing remains of the structure that was once the glory of Nanking. It stood outside the walls on the south side of the city. The cclebrated mausoleum of the Emperor Hung Wu, founder of the Ming dynasty (who died in 1398), with other tombs and monuments, known as the Ming Tombs, are just outside the eastern walls. There are many other interesting ruins in or near the city, including the remains of Hung Wu's Palace. Nanking was first brought into notice among Europeans in 1842, in which year the first British Treaty with China was signed here. During the Taiping rebellion no place suffered more. It was first taken by assault by the Taipings on the 19th March, 1853, and after sustaining a prolonged siege was recaptured by the Imperial forces on the 19th July, 1864, a fatal blow to the rebels.

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