A30
PEIPING
those of the immortal gods and the Son of Heaven. The railway line to Tientsin was opened in 1897. A further link between the two places was forged in 1922 by means of a wireless telephone system, the plant for which was installed for the Chinese Government by the China Electric Co.
During 1902 the fortification of the Legation quarter was completed, the railway termini brought to the Ch'ien Men in the Chinese city, and the reconstruction of the various Legations was begun. These were slowly brought to completion, and extensive barracks connected with each for the accommodation of the Legation Guards. As most Chinese buildings in this section were removed the Legation quarter presents the appearance of a European settlement of about half a square mile in extent. There are several large stores, which sell all kinds of foreign goods. The Peiping Club is much larger and more convenient than it was before; there is a Catholic Church for the Legation Guards, and several hospitals-Rockefeller Foundation (a handsome and splendidly equipped institution, the opening of which marked an epoch in the history of Peiping), Dojin (Japanese, completed in 1917), Central, German, St. Michael's and the Methodist Episcopal John L. Hopkins Memorial- which are provided with accommoda- tion for both Chinese and European patients. There are many foreign banks, and numerous Chinese banks. In addition to a number of smaller hotels, there are two large splendidly-equipped hotels-the Hotel des Wagons-Lits and the Hotel de Pekin. The latter is a magnificent structure capable of accommodating 1,000 guests.
The streets of Peiping are niacadamized, and two electric light companies have been organized which will furnish light wherever wanted in the city. Outside the Legation quarter there are many foreign buildings, the number of which is growing yearly, changing to some extent the appearance of the business localities adjacent to the Glacis.
Since the revolution many changes, which would have been unthinkable under the Manchu régime, have taken place. In addition to opening all available gates, the authorities have constructed several new streets at considerable cost, and are giving better access to certain localities which were formerly badly served. The Imperial City Wall is now pierced in over a dozen places, and three new thoroughfares have- been opened, viz., the Nan Ch'ih Tzu, the Nan Fu K'ou, and the Fu Yu Chieh, the last-mentioned providing a well-made road alongside the western wall of the Imperial City. Peiping has a population of 1,375,634 (figures of the Ministry of the Interior.)
There has been a considerable decline in the official population, both Chinese and foreign, since the transfer of the capital to Nanking.
There are air services to Shanghai via Tientsin and Tsingtao and to Canton via Tsinanfu, Sianfu, Hankow and Changsha.
: Peiping is now connected with Tientsin by a motor road, and there are also motor roads to many places in the Western Hills..
H
:
DIRECTORY
(For Legations see China section, pages 422-A24)
ADMINISTRATIVE
DIPLOMATIC QUARTER
Members--M. le Jonkheer H. P. J. Bosch van Drakestein (Netherlands Legation), President; Y. Muto (Japanese Legation), J. Pieters. (Belgian Legation), D.F.C. Cleland (Hongkong & Shanghai Banking. Corporation J. Dantreiner Banque de l'Indo-China), Hon. Treasurer Medical Officer of Healtli-W. H.
Graham Aspland, M.D.
COMMISSION OF THE!
Clerk of Works-A. Thiele.
Inspector of Police-Capt. M. Inouye
Secretary W. P. Thomas.
司公票鈔美
Mei kno chow piao gun ssu
AMERICAN BANK NOTE Co. Pei Ch'ang
Chieh, Hui Chi Ssu; Teleph. 659 (E)- Cable Ad: Banknote
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.