WAN-HSIEN

also called Sha-ho-tzu, Pinyin Wanxian, or Shahezi, city in eastern Szechwan sheng (province), central China. It is an important port along the Yangtze River, being situated at the western end of that river's system of gorges. An ancient city and administrative centre, Wan-hsien was largely a commercial centre for eastern Szechwan. The city also had a handicraft cotton industry. In 1917 it was opened to foreign trade and became a commercial centre of medium importance, a centre of the wood-oil (tung-oil) trade, and a distribution centre for Western goods. It also had some minor industries, such as junk (boat) building, papermaking, and flour milling. During the Sino-Japanese War (1937-45), a number of industrial plants evacuated from Wu-han in Hupeh and from Shanghai were rebuilt in Wan-hsien. But in 1945 most of these factories returned to the east, leaving only various textile companies (weaving cotton and hemp), flour mills, and tanneries. Diversified industries (notably electronics and chemical products) were later established in the city. Since 1949 Wan-hsien has grown considerably. The river port has been improved, and highways have been built linking Wan-hsien to Chungking, Nan-ch'ung, and Ch'eng-tu. Pop. (1990) 156,823.