Directory_and_Chronicle_1936 — Page 766

KIUKIANG

江九

Kiú-kiang

Kiukiang is situated on the river Yangtsze near the outlet of the Poyang Lake, and was formerly prefectural city of the province of Kiang-si. It is distant about 142 geographical miles from Hankow and 454 miles from Shanghai. Kiukiang, before the Rebellion, was a busy and populous city; but it was occupied by the Taiping rebels in 1853, and before it was given up to the Imperial troops was almost entirely destroyed. When the Foreign Settlement was established there, however, the population soon returned, and has continued to increase rapidly: it is now estimated at 80,000. The city wall has been pulled down, and a maloo has been built in its place.

The city is built close to the river, along the banks of which the walls run for some 500 yards. Their circumference is about five miles, but a portion of the space enclosed is still unoccupied. The city contains no feature of interest. There are several large lakes to the north and west of it, and it is backed by a noble range of hills a few miles distant, amongst which is Kuling, some 3,600 feet high, the well-known summer resort, and the existence of which, within 24 hours' of the port, gives Kiukiang a high position among the Treaty Ports. The former foreign Settlement lies to the west of the city and is neatly laid out. It possesses a small bund lined with trees, 2 clubs, and a Roman Catholic cathedral. Since the end of 1927 the foreign settlement has been under control of the Chinese authorities, and a new residential and business district, close to but outside the city, is slowly coming into being. Aeroplanes on the Shanghai-Hankow run pass through here daily-up plane about 2 p.m. and down plane about 9 a.m.

During 1921 a system of drainage of approved foreign style was initiated. Pinhing- chow now comprises either in or adjacent to it the following prominent buildings: the railway station and godowns, the electric-light power-house, the Yu Sung Match Factory, the Kiuhsing Spinning and Weaving Company's factory, and a large four- storied hotel.

TRADE IN 1934

The most striking feature that adversely affected the trade of Kiukiang for the year under review was the unusually disastrous drought which lasted during the whole of summer of 1934. As a result, Kiangsi, one of the rice- producing provinces, had to import great quantities of rice of both native and foreign origin, instead of making shipments of its over-supply to other places as is ordinarily the case. The fall in export of this basic commodity should be held responsible, to no small extent, for the stagnation of trade. Other factors that hampered business and trade, such

such as high local taxation, stringency of the money market in all parts of China, reduction in the buying power of the population and world wide depression in general were still operative as in the preceding year. With the successful conclusion of the bandit-suppression campaign in this province toward the end of the year, however, hope may be entertained for the resumption of trade at a sooner cr later date.

!

The total value of direct foreign imports amounted to C.G.U. (Customs Gold Units) 2,130,529, representing an increase of C.G.U. 288,407 as compared with the figures of the previous year. The total value of direct exports of Chinese produce abroad amounted to $260 as against $1,686 in 1933. The total value of Chinese produce shipped to Chinese ports amounted to $14,801,532 as against $17,182,107 in 1933.