Page 106 - JCAU-7-1

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Spatial evolution of Fuzhou and Xiamen ports

Grid planning, already used in ancient Asia, proliferated the interventionist characteristics of state intervention
across European colonies in North America during the under mercantilism. With improved construction
Renaissance (14 – 16 centuries). Port cities often based techniques, infrastructure gradually extended into the
th
th
their layouts on the anticipated number and characteristics sea, and in 1919, Jardine, Matheson and Co. unilaterally
of future ships, requiring several years to develop suitable built a reinforced concrete pier and a flying bridge.
infrastructure. In early 1844, the Xiamen British Concession Xiamen, a transit trade port at that time, witnessed
was initially sited at the southern end of the main island, new forms of trade, with individuals profiting from
near the outer harbor, which provided convenient warehouse and lightering operations. In 1920, inspired
water transport yet was distant from the old city center by the Gulangyu Municipal Council, overseas Chinese
(Wang, 1997). Consul Rutherford Alcock (1807 – 1897) established the Xiamen Municipal Bureau, which took on
changed the site selection, citing commercial inconvenience the construction of piers and roads (Taiwan Warehouse
due to its distance from the docks. In early 1852, Consul Co., 1917). In 1922, the Haihou Tan Shanhou Banfa
Sullivan and interpreter Harry Smith Parkes (1828 – 1885) Hetong Santiao (海后滩善后办法三条; Contracts for
planned to reside there but faced rejection due to the the Aftermath of Xiamen Beach Ground) required the
presence of barracks, cultivated fields, and a cemetery. By British Concession to remove road barriers to improve
the end of 1852, the British Concession had moved to a transportation (Shangwu Yinshuguan Bianyi Suo, 1925).
beach area covering approximately 19.6 acres, close to the From 1925 to 1932, the Public Works Bureau and the
traditional commercial district and conveniently connected Embankment Department jointly planned harbor roads
to a shipyard at the island’s northern end. The coastal area of and piers (Figure 1). Oil companies such as Standard Oil
the British Concession was uniformly divided into six plots and Asiatic Petroleum began constructing oil tanks and
with planned straight public roads, drainage ditches, and piers, with the Zhangzhou- Xiamen Railway attached
other infrastructure. Each lessee was required to comply with to these developments (Figure 2). In 1931, the Songyu
the terms stipulated by the British Consulate, undertaking Planning Committee was established. Songyu’s planning
the construction and maintenance at their expense. Local underscored the evolution of the modern city from a
authorities in Xiamen requested the reservation of a 10 ft “consumption center” to an “industrial production site”
strip of land for road construction. Seizing this opportunity, (Esherick, 2000). In 1937, the Naval Headquarters for
the British Consul proposed further expanding the British Zhangzhou and Xiamen paid significant attention to port
Concession. In the 1860s, the concession area had expanded management, leading the Public Works Bureau to draft
to 24.6 acres. The British government paid an annual rent the Revised Preliminary Plan for Xiamen Public Piers.
of $50 per plot of land, and lessees obtained land-use rights
by paying rent to the consulate (PRO: FO678/14, 1852 – 2.2. Modern Fuzhou port spatial planning
1871). Land transfers required registration with the British Nantai Island, designated as a treaty port, served as a key
Consulate, allowing lessees the right to subdivide, transfer, location where foreigners could procure raw materials and
or sublet the land. Subleasing, partitioning, and re-leasing promote their goods. In 1852, British Consul Rutherford
became increasingly common in the 1920s, and overseas Alcock proposed leasing multiple areas on Nantai Island
Chinese actively participated in market competition, with to the Fuzhou authorities, facilitating the storage of goods
the fluidity of concession land facilitating the flow of land for hangs (Li, 2000). Hangs leased land by executing deeds
as capital. with residents, subsequently registering these deeds with

Since 1845, the value of imported goods at Xiamen the consulate. American missionary Justus Doolittle (1824
had grown exponentially. In 1867, Jardine, Matheson – 1880) observed that buyers and sellers frequently engaged
and Co. constructed the Jardine Floating Bridge and intermediaries and noted that, for a land deed to possess
Hulks. The opening of the Suez Canal shortened the legal validity, it required the intermediary’s signature
Eurasian maritime route, and from 1877 onward, hangs (Doolittle, 1865). Due to the absence of unified planning,
(or hongs in Cantonese; trading firms or types of Chinese the arrangement of Fuzhou’s hangs developed irregularly,
merchant establishments and their associated building shaped largely by the local terrain. In 1862, a group of
styles) frequently reclaimed beaches. Embankments foreigners spontaneously formed the Fuzhou Road Trust
and road construction costs were shared between the to oversee the maintenance of roads on Nantai Island
Qing government and the hangs. The following year, (Brand, 1933). By 1866, The Fuzhou Arsenal acquired land
the “Regulations on Reclaiming Beaches” clarified the for the Majiang Shipyard, and the subsequent year saw
public nature of newly reclaimed beaches (Xiamen Shi the establishment of the Fuzhou Naval College. In 1872,
Weiyuanhui Wenshi Ziliao Yanjiu Weiyuanhui, 1963). the China Merchants’ Company expanded to Xiamen and
The involvement of the Chinese government reflects established an office in Fuzhou, entering into competition

Volume 7 Issue 1 (2025) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3495