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

A B C D

E F G

Figure 6. Port spatial landscape: Embankments and piers. (A) Sampans at the bund, Fuzhou. (B) Cargo boats along the bund, Fuzhou. (C) Rising floodwater
at Tai Hing jetty, Fuzhou. (D) The bund, Fuzhou. (E) The bund, Xiamen. (F) Butterfield and Swire ship Shanghai at Xiamen, in front of the C.N. and Co.
building. (G) Construction of the new bund, Xiamen. Source: (A, C, D, F, and G) Archives and Special Collections, SOAS Library, University of London.
([A and C] The 1890s, [D] The 1880s, [F] 1923 – 1924, and [G] 1933 – 1934); (B) Library of Congress; (E) The collection of Chen Yayuan.

In the 20 century, mercantilist ideologies merchants, the Qing government took a proactive role,
th
3
shifted toward business warfare and industry. The investing in response to challenges from foreign economic
implementation of the Shiye Jihua (Industrial Plan) forces. Faced with these challenges, the government began
encouraged a strategic focus on the development of to self-reflect on its responsibilities, exploring new avenues
railways, highways, and ports (Sun, 1981). Xiamen to expand national commerce at an institutional level.
actively undertook extensive construction projects, Simultaneously, on an urban level, Western commercial
including embankments and docks. Notably, new construction methods and corporate building systems
docks were progressively established on Gulangyu were emulated to accommodate growing national business
and Songyu. This period marked a gradual departure demands. The development of port spaces not only satisfied
from the mercantilist emphasis on commerce alone. the requirements for the reproduction of capitalist space
Economic thinking evolved to prioritize the essence but also provided robust support for the expansion of
of capitalism, particularly on modern industry and its capital, maximizing efficiency. By reshaping urban space,
associated socio-economic structures, with a particular successful efforts fostered the possibilities of capitalist
emphasis on machine production (Ma, 2014). This reproduction, laying the groundwork for the development
transformative shift was prominently evident in the of liberal capitalism.
development of Fuzhou. In the region, local gentry
and merchants drew inspiration from Russian brick tea 3.3. The Oilship era (1895 – 1937)
factories, leading to the establishment of their own brick From the late 19 century to the early 20 century, the
th
th
tea manufacturing plants. The foundation of the Fuzhou Hundred Days’ Reform spurred the rise of economic
Machinery Manufacturing Bureau marked a significant liberalism. Oil demand extended beyond its role
step, followed by the setup of machinery-based flour as a commodity and economic resource, becoming
mills, sugar factories, weaving mills, and tea factories. an indispensable fuel source during wartime. The
The launch of the Xiamen canning factory further establishment of companies such as Standard Oil Company,
symbolized Xiamen’s gradual industrialization. Asiatic Petroleum Company, and Texas Company,

As transit ports, Fuzhou and Xiamen witnessed transformed the existing port landscapes, accompanied by
Western interests engage in construction with minimal the construction of railways and docks.
capital investment to meet their needs, reflecting In 1892, the Shell Transport and Trading Company
localized economic and social dynamics where capitalist was established, and by 1895, it pioneered the
expansion was tempered by local constraints. Hang- containerized transportation of oil to Xiamen, leading
led port construction prompted the Qing government
to intervene with capital investment to actively address 3 Xue Fucheng (1838–1894), a representative figure among
external involvement. Recognizing that foreign countries early bourgeois reformists in the Qing dynasty and a pioneer
all prioritize commerce for prosperity, and any country of capitalist commerce and industry, presented his views in
engaging in foreign trade must establish consuls to protect Volume I of the Memorial of Missions.

Volume 7 Issue 1 (2025) 9 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3495