Cities of China are big and numerous

Cities of China are big and numerous. Beijing (1 500 000?) The capital, it is not opened for foreign trade. Actually, it has no trade of any kind, and receives its whole importance from this to be a government place. But at Tianjin (750 000), port of Beijing, and important 'the agreement port,' is the big trade, both foreign and local. Tianjin and Beijing are connected by rail and as the Russian government has acquired the right to connection of Beijing with the Trans-Siberian Railway, more than possibly, that in time Tianjin becomes a final stop of that railway. From 'agreement ports' except Tianjin the head Shanghai, Hankow, Fuzhou, Hangchow, Amoy, and Canton. Shanghai (405 000) exceeds all other ports of China connected in number of its foreign trade. Its foreign trade - it is valid, almost three fifth that from the whole empire. And total of the foreigners living in China (in 1896 has told to be 10 855 whom 4362 were the British subjects and Americans 1439), approximately one half lives in Shanghai. Shanghai - it is valid, New York of China, and if railways only have been constructed from this (as have been offered) to the capital, Beijing, and Yang-tse-kiang to Hankow, and by means of [145] cities of coast
To Canton China would begin a new era in her career. Hankow (800 000), on Yang-tse-kiang, approximately 700 miles from his mouth, is the main shopping centre of area of China making tea. Ocean steamships rise on the river to Hankow for their cargoes. Fuzhou (650 900) also have a big export trade in tea. Hangchow (700 000), one of the most beautiful cities in China, is also the main city for manufacturing of silks, and the gold and silver product, a varnished product, and admirers. Amoy (100 000) has the best harbour in China and huge trade in import, taking a place in this respect then after Shanghai. Canton (2 000 000?) The greatest city in the Chinese Empire. The considerable part of its inhabitants lives in boats. From these 'floating houses' there as speak, 40 000. Canton Foreign trade near to that from Shanghai. As soon as it was above, now it - a lot of subordinated. Its manufacturing, however, are still important and include silk, a clap, a glass, porcelain, a paper, the sugar, a varnished product, both the goods of an ivory and the metal goods. Nanking (150 000), once capital of China and once the greatest city in the world, is now rather small city. Though agreement port, its trade it is not important. It was once known for its beautiful tower of porcelain, 200 foots in height, but it is destroyed now. In China there are many other big cities.
China and its main shopping centres.
[146]
HONGKONG