Port Opening and Social Transformation—A Study on the Self-Opened Commercial Ports in Modern China

Author: Yang Tianhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-07-01
Features: Since the Wuxu Reform, China has actively opened up numerous ports, which are known as "self-opened commercial ports." These ports represent an important category of China's commercial ports. After the Wuxu Reform, over thirty years later, self-opened commercial ports gradually replaced treaty ports, becoming the main form of China's opening-up. How did modern China transition from being closed off to actively opening its ports for trade? During this process, which ports were established, how were self-opened commercial ports constructed, to what extent did they draw on treaty ports, and how did their foreign trade develop after opening? In what ways did port opening drive China's modern transformation, and what lessons were learned? Based on extensive primary sources, this book provides a comprehensive reconstruction of facts and logical arguments for the first time, systematically explaining these issues.