Pioneers on Wheels: The 1920s 'Tong-Mei' and 'Xia-He' Motor Road Networks
Introduction: From Narrow Paths to Modern Thoroughfares Before the 1920s, land transportation in Southern Fujian remained in a primitive state of manual labor and porterage. The wealthy traveled by sedan chair, while long-distance travelers relied on horses. However, with the reflux of overseas Chinese capital from Nanyang (Southeast Asia), the roar of motor engines began to echo through the mountains of Xiamen. For the global Chinese diaspora searching for their roots, ancestral memories are often tied to specific roads or old bus stations. In those early years, road transportation in Xiamen was almost entirely driven by overseas Chinese capital. These were not just trade routes; they were extensions of the “Road Salvation” and “Industrial Salvation” dreams of patriots like Tan Kah Kee. Through digital gazetteers, we can reconstruct this modern transportation history built by these pioneers. ...