Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 690

NANNING

甯 南

Nan-ning

Nanning, the capital of Kwangsi, is situated in the southern part of the province, on the steep left bank of the Yukiang, the most important tributary flowing into the West River from the south. It lies in the centre of a wide and fertile plain which is some 400 feet above sea-level. The climate is moderate, the temperature in the height of summer seldom exceeding 96 degree (F.) and in the winter hardly falling below 40. In 1907 Nanning was voluntarily opened to foreign trade in accordance with the Imperial Edict issued in 1899, whereby an area about a mile south of the walled city (with the old wall city on the east, the obsolete city tower on the south, the river on the west, and the Yi-Ching-Fong Road on the north as the four limits) has been set apart as the trading part. Within these boundaries both foreign and Chinese mer- chants are allowed to build houses, shops and godowns; but on the part of the foreigners, land cannot be purchased, it can only be leased for a period of 30 years, and on expiry the lease may be renewed once more. During the Ching Dynasty the ad- ministration within the said area was in the hands of a Commissioner, titled "Tso- Kiang-Tutai"; since the establishment of the Republic, the Commissioner of the Nan- ning Maritime Customs was appointed to serve as the Commissioner of that Municipal- ity at the same time. In 1914 the managenient was taken over by the Nanning Police Headquarters which has recently been transformed into the Public Safety Bureau,

The Suburb of the city was formerly very scarcely populated and it was not until 1932 when the administration office of the Governor was moved from the city to the several imposing buildings newly completed somewhere south of the said area, which later in January, 1933, also accommodated the many departments of the govern- ment, that the suburb has evolved from solitude to prosperity. Immediately follow- ing the construction of the government office buildings number of premises for various institutions, public utility enterprises, etc., were erected. In addition to the Customs House and Post Office already founded in the past years there are at present in the suburb a Government Chemical Laboratory, a Government Observatory, a broadcast station, a Government Press, a Waterworks, a refrigerating plant, a Botanical Garden, a public library, a park, and an army hosipital. Arrangements have also been made by the government to establish a residential quarter in the southeastern part of the suburb where lodges for the homes of government officials are already on the increase. There is a paved street already completed, thereby linking this section with the city by motor cars and buses. Suffice it to say, all aspects point to the light that prosperity and well-being are forthcoming to this ever progressing city. There are, however very few foreign firms in this part of the town except a branch office of the Asiatic Petroleum Co., and the Standard Oil Co. Military and police headquarters are still located inside the city.

With the rapid improvement of the provincial highway system Kwangsi possesses, 1935, 6,443 li of motor roads constructed by the provincial authorities and 5,898 l constructed by the district authorities, amounting a total of 12,341 l. Nanning being the capital city of the province is the centre of all motor roads. The Yung-Pin route, linking up with the Hunan border, is to pass through Liuchow and Kwelin districts in the north with its terminal at Chuen-Hsien. Another goes through Ching Yuan and reaches Tu-Shan near the border of Kweichow in the West. A third passes through Kwei Hsien to Wuchow, the most important commerical part and the east gate of Kwangsi, leading eastward to the province of Kwangtung. A fourth is connected. with Wu-Ming and Pe Se near Yunnan, and a fifth goes in the southwest to Lungchow adjacent to the border of Indo-China. There are about 25 buses running daily on the highways to facilitate movements of passengers and freight. In Nanning there are 13 garages or private-owned motor car companies with more than 30 automobiles and buses for highway transportation. In addition, there are 6 buses

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