1904 March [1904 January 9], J. W. Jamieson, “Notes on the Foreign Trade of Tientsin for the Years 1900-03 by Mr. J. W. Jamieson, Commercial Attaché to H.M.'s Legation at Peking”, in China: Notes on the Foreign Trade of Tientsin during the Years 1900-03[1], number 3127, London, →OCLC, page 24:
Mr. Carles has alluded to a curious faculty certain small Chinese towns possess of attracting to themselves special trades, in face of the fact that there is no ostensible reason why a particular trade should go to that particular place. A very good illustration hereof is furnished by Chiao ch’eng, a name constantly recurring in connection with the skin trade. It is a small district city south of T’ai-yüan, the capital of Shanhsi, which in the course of the last few years has become a busy commercial centre, to the great perturbation of a recently arrived magistrate, who has discovered that increased trade means increased cost of living and is therefore bad for the people.
Part of the country between Fên-chou and T'ai-yüan is famous as being the finest grape-producing district in North China, and we were able to indulge in the luscious fruit at a halfpenny per pound!
T'ai-yüan was an area traditionally associated with the legendary sage ruler Yao, also known as 'T'ang Yao' (Yao of T'ang) because he had once resided there at a place called T'ang.
In the Duke of T'ang he recognized a true leader and sealed the alliance by inviting him to his home in T'ai-yüan when Li Yüan was on his way to Long-men to quash the rebellion there.
