PRC CITY BRIEF T'IEN-CHIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T00608R000600130008-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 3, 1999
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: July 1, 1975
• Content Type: BRIEF

 Approved For Release 1999/09/26 : CIA-RDP86T00608R000600130008-5
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 Approved For Release 1999/09/26 : CIA-RDP86T00608R000600130008-5
T' IEN-CHIN (Tientsin, Tien-ching)
(pronounced tien-gin)
Cninese romanized system
of spelling:
Tianjin
Meaning in Chinese:
entrance to the heavenly
Location:
capital (Peking)
39?08'N 117?12'E
Elevation:
(approx. latitude of
Cincinnati , Ohio)
16 feet above sea level
Population:
4,200,000
Cl i mate:
Jan
April
July
Oct
Mean daily maximum
34
68
90
68
temperature (?F)
Mean daily minimum
16
45
72
48
temperature (OF)
Mean number of days
2
4
13
4
with precipitation
Mean monthly
0.2
0.6
7.1
0.6
precipitation (inches)
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T' IEN-CHIN
General
Men-chi n, located on the North China Plain some 75 miles
southeast of Peking and 30 miles inland from Po Hai (Gulf of Chi-
li), is China's third largest city in population, a key transporta-
tion hub, and a leading industrial center. The importance of the
city derives from its natural physical advantages of location and
accessibility via land and water routes to a densely populated and
politically important hinterland. The modern development of
Men-chin was spurred by western capital after 1860, expansion
and modernization of trade and transport, and nearby sources of
raw materials.
Men-chin sprawls for almost 10 miles along the banks of the
Hai Ho, a short and troublesome river that serves as the outlet
for several streams that drain the northern section of the North
China Plain. Because the elevation of T'ien-chin in only a few
feet above sea level, the city and its environs have been subject
to periodic and occasionally heavy flooding in years past. The
old city, most commercial establishments, and half of the former
concession areas of the Western powers are located on the right
(south or west) bank; the major industrial zone, several military
installations, and other former concessions are located on the
left bank. Industrial expansion has taken place west and north
of the city along the rail lines. Beyond the built-up area is a
monotonously flat agricultural landscape of fields, villages, and
canals. Important mineral resources situated nearby include coal
from the Kai-luan (Kai-lar.) mines to the northeast near T'ang-shan,
salt along the shores of Po Hai, and recently discovered petroleum
fields located to the south at Sheng-li and Ta-ku.
Since 1949 Men-chin has greatly enlarged its municipal area
through absorption of adjoining satellite towns and rural
agricultural areas. In 1949 the municipal area was only 21
square miles; by the early 1950s, the municipality had expanded
to more than 1,200 square miles gained through annexation of the
T'ang-ku--Ta-ku port area and the Han-ku chemical center. T'ien-
chin was a city of independent administrative status until 1958,
at which time it was demoted and placed under provincial jurisdic-
tion but simultaneously designated the capital of Hopeh Province.
First-order or province-level status was restored in 1967 and
the provincial capital was removed to Shih-chia-chuang. In late
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1973 the municipality was enlarged again by some 2,600 square miles
with the addition of five hsien (counties), principally consisting
of the rich agricultural region to the north and west.
T' ien-chin i s at the same latitude as Washington, D. C. , and
temperatures, especially in summer, are comparable. Yearly
precipitation amounts, however, are only about half of -that
received in Washington and the spring and fall transitional
periods are shorter. Winter in T' ien-chin is cold and dry; January
temperatures average near freezing and occasionally subzero readings
are recorded. A little snow usually falls from November through
March and the Hai Ho and Po Flai may freeze; ice breaking operations
are constantly required to keep the port facilities open. Summers
are hot and humid. Temperatures reach 90?F or above about 50
percent of time and, occasionally, exceed 100?F. Almost two-thirds
of the yearly precipitation -- mostly from thunderstorms -- is
received during July and August. September and October are the
best months to visit T' ien-chin; by then, the heat of summer has
eased and rainfall has decreased sharply. Temperatures during
autumn average in the 70's at midday and drop into the 50's at
night.
History
Although recent archaeological discoveries indicate that a
settlement at the present site of Tien-chin dates back to the
Warring States Period (403-221 B.C.), continuous occupation
of the site apparently becian about 800 years ago. This early
settlement was named Chih-ku -- an apt designation meaning "buying
and selling." By the early 15th century, the town had assumed
its modern role as a collection and transshipment point for goods
from the south, shipped either by inland waterways or sea, thence
transported to the capital at Peking and elsewhere within the
Chinese Empire.. A military garrison was posted, city walls built,
storage facilities expanded, and merchants prospered.
The modern development of T'ien-chin began in the mid-19th
century following its designation as a treaty port (1858) and
the granting of concessions to Great Britain, France, and several
other western nations soon after. Western-style buildings were
constructed in each concession and part of T'ien-chin began to
resemble a European city. Trade greatly expanded and industrial
development grew and diversified. Port facilities were improved
and enlarged and ocean shipping increased; somewhat later railroads
largely supplanted the movement of goods inland via canals. Industry,
particularly light industry such as textiles and other consumer
goods, became established and the population of the city increased
from an estimated 300,000 at midcentury to about 600,000 by 1900.
-3-
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Tien-chin continued to develop rapidly after 1900. It soon
became China's second leading port (and the most important in
North China), surpassed only by Shanghai as a center for manu-
facturing. In many respects the two cities were markedly similar:
locations near but not on the sea; a history of rapid industrializa-
tion and population growth spurred by the development of the treaty
port system and the influx of western capital and entrepreneurship;
and a concentration on light industry and consumer goods, part-
icularly textiles. T'ien-chin, however, was troubled by the
increasing siltation of the Hai Ho and the consequent problems
of dredging to keep open a shipping channel. Eventually, port
facilities were constructed downstream at the mouth of the Hai
Ho at Ta-ku. During the Japanese occupation of the city (1937-45),
a major construction program was begun to construct an artificial
harbor and deepwater berthing facilities -- an undertaking finally
completed in 1952 after the Chinese Communists had assumed power.
Post-1949 Developments
The growth of Men-chin since 1949 has continued to be
abetted by its natural advantages of location and accessibility
to land and water transport. The national railnet connects
Tien-chin with Peking and the Northwest, Shen-yang and the
Northeast, and the lower Yangtze Valley and South China. Ships
up to 10,000 tons can berth at fang-ku ;kin-kang (New Port),
with smaller ships up to 3,000 tons servicing Tien-chin; canals
and rivers permit a limited amount of cargo to be moved in and
near the city by shallow-draft boats and barges. Industry,
though still oriented towards consumer goods, has diversified
and there is a significant production of iron and steel, motor
vehicles and component parts, heavy machinery, chemicals, and
a variety of other goods.
Tien-chin has few attractions, no spectacular views, and
little of historical or cultural interest. The core of the city
retains a faded facade of European-style buildings and wide,
tree-lined streets; the outlying sections, -howeve r, present a
more characteristic post-1949 Chinese urban panorama of recently
built industrial plants, workers housing, drab government
buildings, and occasional parks. The former Japanese, British,
and French Concessions located on the right bank of the river
still comprise the focal point of the city, a district now called
Ho-p'ing, where the main shopping districts, major government
buildings, principal hotels, and several parks are located. To
the north is the small, rectangular old city, or "Chinese town,"
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bisected by two main streets that in turn divide it into four
sections each criss-crossed by a maze of narrow lanes and crowded
buildings. Streets constructed on the -foundations of ancient city
walls form the perimeter of the old city. The southwestern suburbs
contain parks and universities (T'ien-chin, I-lo-pei, and Nan-k'ai).
The largest park in the city, Shui-shang Kung-yuan (Water Park),
also is located here; it includes an exhibition hall, museum, and
lake.
Perhaps the most striking construction project -- and undoubtedly
the largest -- in the vicinity of Tien-chin is the work on the
Hai Ho and its feeder streams. The principal problem is that the
several streams converging on T'ien-chin have a combined capacity
far greater than the carrying capacity of the Hai Ho, their
outlet to the sea. Since 1963 when extensive flooding occurred,
several major water conservancy projects have been under way in
response to Chairman Mao's order that the Hai Ho "must be brought
under permanent control." Work near Tien-chin has included con-
struction of streambeds to form new outlets to the sea, thus
bypassing the Hai Ho, and various other water control facilities,
including locks, pumping stations, and the like.
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