Evening star., 1926-10-24
BAND|T-HELD CITY
NOTED IN HISTORY
Sianfu, Where 81 Foreigners
Were Recent Captives, Once
Capital of China.


Sianfu. capital of Shensi Province.
China, where 81 foreigners. including
american missionaries, were held re-
Gently by bandits occupying the be-
1eaguered city, was once the capltal or
the Chinese Empire. the National Geo
graphic Society recalls.
Then Shensi was on China's mill
tary frontier, but the development of
the eastern and coast regions robbed
Sianfu of it's glory and the govern
ment moved it's headquarters to Pc
king" says a bulletin from the soci-
ETY.. "Once since. Sianfu played host
to the rulers of China, when the En-
peror and Dowager Empress fled there
to escape execution by revolutionists
during the Boxer uprising.
Gateway to Northwest China.
"Sianfu is the gateway to Northwest
China, though its lacks any railroad
and water transportation facilities.
The railroad which will soon link ST.
anfu with the coast has not yet
reached this far into the interior. and
the Wei River, a tributary of the
Hwango Ho, Is not navigable to this
point.
DESPITE it's isolation. which would
spell doom to an American city SINH
larly situated, Sianfu is one or tne
most important commercial cities III
China. This fact is due to It's location
at the intersection of several tfdue
routes. from two to three thousahu
miles long, reaching important busl-
ness and industrial centers OF the Re-
public and Central Asia. These routes
are crossed and recrossed by con-
,inual procession Of Chinese traders,
who use various types of antiquated
Convevances Many of the traders are
their own beasts of burden Sugar,
tea, cotton and silk from the south
and east, and wheat from the north
end west, find a ready market. Trade
in skins and furs also has been de-
veloped by the MongOls and Russians.
City Protected by High Walls.
''The fortressike wall surrounding
Sianfu saved the city from destruc'
tion by the Huns and Mongols many
times in it's early days. The genius
of it's builders was given supreme
test during the Mohammedan rebel
lion from 1863 to 1871. Gates pierce
the wall on all four sides, topped by
monumental towers even more artlstlc
than those surmountinG the gates OF
the famous wall of Peking.
Sianfu affords a view of the entire
city, with it's muddy roads and low
living dwellings and business struc-
lures. Here and there one will sight
a comfortable mansion of Slanfu
business man, surrounded by attrac-
tive private gardens.
"Ry trimming off few of the
rough edges of Cleveland it could be
set down inside of Sianfu's walls and
most of it's population could be accom-
modated with Chinese quarters. But
life in Sianfu would he uncomfortable
for the people of the Ohio city. There
are no automobiles. electric lights. ma
cadam roads. telephones. radios. or
modern amusements that are now en-
toyed by the people of the eastern
Chinese cities. With the exception
of the government telegraph, which
links up all provincial capitals of the
republic, a cotton mill, a match fac
tory, and a small variety of foreign
made goods seen on the market ST
anfu shows little advancement. The
completion of the railroad will bring
the city in closer touch with up-to-
date eastern business centers.
Source of Chinese History.
"When explorers attempt to un-
cover the secrets of China early his
tory. it is believed the excavation of
the neighborhood of Sianfu will re-
veal data as interesting as that found
in Egypt. The Forest of Tablets of
Sianfu contains relics and records Of
historical Importance. notably the
HISTORIAN tablet, which was erected
in the eighth century. The face of
the tablet is carved with records of
the establishment and propagation OF
the Christian religion in China. Eur-
ther searches will probably reveal the
reason why the influence of the Mes
torian missionaries has completely
disappeared, while Mohammedianism
an equally alien religion among the
Chinese, has become so firmly rooted
in many parts of the country.
christian missions now dot the
vicinity of Sianfu.