MENGTZE, a city of south China in the south-east of the province of Yunnan (23° 24' N., 103° 2 2' E.), situated in a fertile and well cultivated basin on the high plateau, 4,30o feet above sea-level, and enjoying a climate which, tempered by the high altitude, is equable and healthy despite the latitude. The city was opened in 1888 as a Treaty Port and the seat of the French overland trade between Tongking and Yunnan. This overland trade has continued to increase with the result that Mengtze is a flourishing frontier port. It is 4o miles distant from its junk port, Manhao, which is situated at a lower level (90o feet) on the Red River. Before the Yunnan Railway, which connects Haiphong and Yunnan-fu via Mengtze, was opened to traffic in 191o, imports from Haiphong were conveyed along the Red River route by steamer and native craft as far as Manhao, and thence by coolies or pack animals to Mengtze for distribution throughout Yunnan. The bulk of the imports to Mengtze continue inland under transit pass as far as Kweichow. The value of the whole trade has developed yearly.
In 1924, for example, net foreign imports were 14,823,747 Hk. Taels, net Chinese imports were 584,678, and exports 9,976,363, making a total of 25,384,788. Of this total value, direct foreign trade represents 98%. The total Maritime Customs Revenue at Mengtze in the same year amounted to Hk. Taels 790,779. The greater part of both import and export trade of Mengtze is with Hongkong and most of the remainder with Tongking and Annam. Tin (in slabs) is by far the chief export. About 90% of the total Chinese output of tin comes from south Yunnan and of this almost the whole is exported either via Mengtze and the Red River or by rail, to Haiphong and so to Hongkong where it is refined and marketed. Prior to the construction of the railway (under French enterprise) almost the whole output of tin went from Mengtze down to Haiphong via the Red River passage. In 1925, the Mengtze export was 8,86o tons, and railway trans port 8,554 tons. Textiles (chiefly cotton), sugar (refined and candy), metals, kerosene and matches are the chief imports.