SHANGHAI', the most Important maritime city of China, situated on the left bank of the Iiwangpoo or Woosung river, 12 in. from where it debouches into the southern portion of the mouth of theinngtsc-Kiang, in lat. 31° 14' n., and long. 121° e. Though it is now one of the first emporiums of commerce in the east, only a quarter of a century ago it was but a third-rate Chinese town. It is a keen or (Ustriet city, having a wall 3 m. in circuit, through which 6 gates open into extensive suburbs. The low alluvial Orin on which it is situated is of great extent, and intersected by innumerable creeks. which cnviron the walls, and permeate the city in various directions. It is a dirty, poorly-built town. the houses are brick, the streets are very narrow, and constantly crowded with people. Few of the build ing,S rise, above the low walls of the city; the only conspicuous objects are the the Roman Catholic cathedral, a massive edifice, and the lofty spire of the Baptist chapel. The temples present the same general appearance met with in all Chinese cities. Every city has its ching-hwang, or temple of the tutelary gods: that of Shanghai is in a picturesque position on a rocky islet, surrounded by a serpentine sheet of water, which is crossed by zigzag bridges. A little further down the river stand the foreign settlements, English, French. and American. The whole of the mercantile hemp are built upon the English Concession; while the French concession is mainly occupied by go-down4, wharves, and Chinese houses. There are no French merchants iu Shanghai. The river in front of the Chinese town is thronged with junks, lashed side by side for a couple of miles. The reach in front of the foreign settlement was formerly crowded with sailing-vessels; but since the opening of the Suez canal, the steomers of the P. anti 0. steam nip igation com pany and of private companies have largely token their place. Lower down ate the ship-yards, machine-shops, and dry-docks. which foreign commerce has called into existence; and here the Chinese government has at work an arsennl where war-vessels of the largest tonnage are built and equipped. Under the arrangement by which the foreign custom-house dues are collected by foreigners. facilities have been created for the navigation of the Yang-tse by stationing a light-ship, buoys. and signals, rendering safer the approach to this important mart. One or two light-houses have also been recently erected, giving addi•onal security to vessels entering and leaving the port.
There area chamber of commerce, rending-room, library, and literary iustittition—noth in.- being wattling to render the port of Shanghai the metropolis of eastern'commerce. The municipal government of the foreign settlement is highly creditable to the mercan tile traders. Several gentlemen are elected annually by the land-holders, for the pur poses of local government—police, public improvements, and repairs requiring much management, and entailing muchexpense, the funds for Aieli are obtained by taxation. Shanghai is also the seat of various missions 'for converting the natives—the schools, dispensaries, and other benevolent objects meeting with generous support from foreign merchants. The products of Shanghai itself are not of much value, but the city is a most hnoortant entrepot for goods passing between the n. and s. provinces of Chien, as well as for the imports and exports from and to foreign countries. It was in the pos session of the Tae-ping rebels from 1853 to 1833, and the prosperity both of the native town and the foreign settlements was in peril for a time; but it enormously advanced after their expulsion—the English quarter in particular becoming a refuge for the Chi nese from all parts of the province of Kiang-sa, which the Toe-pings to deso late up to 1832. The trade of the port increased threefold between the years 1860 and 1833; and this increase was du • in a great measure to the large and increasing trade from the ports opened on the Yang-tsa in Chinese pro Ince of all descriptions. In 1873 the entrances and clearances at the port were 3,851 vessels, of 2.594.171 the imports, fol'eign and coastwise, £13,993,218; and the exports to £10,830,340. The articles of import and export are of a most miscellaneous description; the chief articles of import being opium. English cotton and woolen goods, and metals; and of exports, tea and silk. 'Great quantities of the opium ,imported into Shanghai are re-ex ported to the other parts of China. The mercantile importance of Shanghai has increased greatly through the opening of the Yang-tse river to commerce. In 1876 the first railway In China was opened from Shanghai to liangwang, but it has since been bought up by the government and closed. The population is estimated at 230,000.
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