Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 701

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LUNGCHOW-MENGTSZ AND YUNNANFU

Tidewaiters-Cheng Fu Chao, Chen Yuen Hsiu, Lee Yih Ho, Huang Chao Kuang, Chang Kwang Hua, Chen Hsiao Shih, Chan Hwa Yuan, Cheng Kai Kit, Wang Cheng Chu, Wong Yo Pei, Yu She Yuen, Cheng Koon Ying, Ling Ping Kwaung, Chang Kun Chong, Wang Ts'un Ming, Hsu Hao Nien, Luk Ta Sheng, Wu Kuo Hsiung, Chow Chia Chou, Chia Yum Chung, Hong Su Lang, Lau Yun Tsoi, Chao Chung San, Li Jone-liang,

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A459

FRENCH CONSULATE Cable Ad: Fransulat

Longtcheou

J. A., Royere, consul for Longtcheou and Nanning with Residence in Longtcheou

J. V. F. Tseng, Chinese clerk

FRENCH HOSPITAL +

Dr. Ch'en Ting-wok

局郵州龍

Yang Shang Si, Kuan Ching Hwa,

Tsing Pen Bing, Hung Kit Chiu and Loh Koue-gno

POST OFFICE (CHINESE) - Lungchow

Kwangsi

Postmaster-Tao Te-i

MENGTSZ AND YUNNANFU

自蒙

Mêny-z

Mengtsz is a district city in the south-east of Yunnan, and together with Manhao, a small village on the right bank of the Red River, was opened to trade by the Additional Convention to the French Treaty of Tientsin of the 25th April, 1886, signed at Peking on the 26th June, 1887. The town is two days' journey by pony from Manhao, but is only an hour's distance by train from Pishihchai, a station on the Tien-Yueh Railway. It is beautifully situated, being built on a cultivated plateau 20 miles long by about 12 miles in breadth, encircled by picturesque mountains, and is 4,280 feet above the level of the sea. The place was of much more importance before the Mahom- medan rebellion, as the numerous well-built temples, many of them now in ruins, still testify. The French Consul hoisted his flag at Mengtsz on the 30th April, 1889, and the Customs station was opened in the following August.. Since the extension of the Tien-Yueh Railway to Yunnanfu and the removai, of the French Consulate, the Customs headquarters and the Banque de l'Indo- chine to the provincial capital, Mengtsz has been dwindling into insignificance. and its name is only remembered as one of historical importance.

The climate of Yunnanfu-the provincial capital-is temperate and good, being at an altitude of 6,400 feet. From October to April, there is very little rain and a good deal of wind, but in June, July, August and September which is the rainy season the rainfall is about 49 inches in a year of heavy rain, and as low as 24 inches when the rains are scarce. When the rain is as low as the latter figure, there is a drought and harvests are poor, and when as the first figure there are floods and the harvest is similarly poor. Being at the terminus of the Tien-Yueh Railway, Yunnanfu is now becoming an important centre for the distribution of foreign and native goods imported via Tonkin. The whole town, now a Municipality, has a population of some 250,000, being the most densely-populated in the province. There are four Consulates the French, the British, the American and the German. Decent hotels and electric lights are available; and there is a network of highways deviating from the town to the neigbouring dsitricts and scenic sports.

TRADE IN 1939

With two of the main arteries of trade in "Free China"-the Yunnan-Annam Railway and the Yunnan-Burma higliway traversing the province of Yunnan, the year 1939 opened at Yunnanfu (Kunming), the headquarters of the Mengtsz Customs, with indications of a further development in trade.. Despite certain deterrent effects