Directory_and_Chronicle_1934 — Page 918

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SAMSHUI

水三 Sam-shui

The Treaty port of Samshui, opened in 1897 under the Burmah Convention nearly 40 years after Consul Harry Parkes East River Expedition-is situated near the junc- tion of the West and North Rivers, in lat. 23 deg. 6 mín. 30 sec. N., and long. 112 deg. 53 min, and 48 sec. E. The ancliorage known as Hokow, at which foreigners reside, was formerly an ordinary Chinese fishing village, with boat-building as its leading industry, and a flooded state in summer as its characteristic peculiarity, but it is fast becoming a busy mart. According to the Convention, the town of Samshui and Kongkun (a small village situated among the hills opposite Hokow) together constitute the port area. The formal opening took place on 4th June, 1897, since which date the trade of the port increased steadily until July, 1925, when the strike and boycott inaugurated against Hongkong shipping caused an unprecedented falling off in imports. The junk traffic is large, and the abolition of the likin station at this port and at the stage. ports-Shiuhing and Dosing-from the beginning of 1931 was undoubtedly a great boon to merchants. This was evidenced by the fact that the number of cargo junks have since increased remarkably. The district city of Samshui itself was once surrounded by an imposing wall built in the 6th year of Chia Ching of the Mings (about A.D. 1560), the year after the place attained to the dignity of a magistracy. This wall was completely demolished in 1930 and the tract of land obtained thereby was transformed into a circular maloo, and some of the bricks were used for the con- struction of a public garden, known as the Chung Shan Garden, which was formally opened by the Magistrate on the 28th June, 1930. In the town, where dwell the magistrate and the commander of the few local troops, the space is but half occupied by poor dwelling-houses and one small street containing provision shops. Outside the North Gate which has now disappeared stands an imposing temple temp. Chia Ch'ing of the Ch'ing Dynasty (Circa 1800). Between the town and the river is a fine nine-storied pagoda, rebuilt during the reign of Chia Ch'ing, 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. At Sainam there is established an electric plant which supplies Samshui with light.

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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 six 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 fresh 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 Samshui Reach; 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 can 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.

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