CHAPTER VIII - T'AI-YUEN-FU

Summary

T'ai-yuen-fu, the capital of this province, lies on the northern border of a large and fertile plain, about 3000 feet above the sea-level, and with an area of some 2000 square miles. It is difficult to get at the population of Chinese cities. Comparing it with others I have seen, I should estimate the population at about 60,000. The natives give a much higher figure, but Chinese statistics are proverbially unreliable. T'ai-yuen-fu is the centre of the Baptist Mission work in Shansi, and though we approached the city in a driving snowstorm, the missionaries and a number of native Christians, according to Chinese custom, came forth to meet us and bid us welcome.

On Sunday we had the opportunity of seeing something of both the Baptist and China Inland Missions. As the China Inland Mission native service is held an hour earlier than our own, we were able to spend a little time with them. Afterwards, at our own service, we had a very enjoyable time, Dr. Glover and myself addressing the natives, who seemed very pleased to see and hear us. In the evening we had an English service, at which the resident families of both missions were present, with two or three missionaries who were passing through the city. Our time in T'ai-yuen-fu was largely taken up with the conferences which we held with our brethren about mission work.