| Foochow Arsenal | |||||||||
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 Foochow Arsenal (1870s) | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 福州造船廠 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 福州造船厂 | ||||||||
| Literal meaning | Fuzhou Shipyard | ||||||||
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| Mawei Arsenal | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 馬尾造船廠 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 马尾造船厂 | ||||||||
| Literal meaning | Mawei Shipyard | ||||||||
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TheFoochow Arsenal, also known as theFuzhou orMawei Arsenal, was one of several shipyards created by theQing Empire and a flagship project of French assistance to China during theSelf-Strengthening Movement.[1] The shipyard was constructed under orders fromLi Hongzhang andZuo Zongtang and was situated in Mamoi (nowMawei District), a port town within the jurisdiction ofFuzhoufu (thenromanized as "Foochow"), which is several miles up theMin River.[2][3]
Planning for the shipyard, the Fuzhou Naval College(t船政學堂,s船政学堂,pChuánzhèng Xuétáng,wCh'uan-cheng Hsüeh-t'ang), and other facilities began in 1866. Construction began in 1867. Two French Naval officers,Prosper Giquel and Paul d'Aiguebelle, both on leave from the French Imperial Navy, were contracted to recruit a staff of about forty European engineers and mechanics, and to oversee the construction of a metal-working forge, the creation of a Western-style naval dockyard, the construction of eleven transports and five gunboats, and the establishment of schools for training in navigation and marine engineering—all within a five-year period.[4][5][6][7] Chinese authorities provided the materials and labour,[8] with the number of labourers rising from an initial figure of 1,600 to more than 2,000 by 1872.[9] The operating cost over five years was estimated at 3 milliontaels of silver, and the cost of maintenance of the ships produced was partly funded by revenue from duties on theimport of opium.[10] The first ship produced at the Arsenal, the 150-horsepowerQing Forever(t萬年清,s万年清,pWànnián Qīng,wWan-nien Ch'ing), was launched in June 1869.[11]
The shipyard was severely damaged by French forces in 1884 during theSino-French War of 1883–1885,[12] in thebattle of Fuzhou. A modern shipyard was later rebuilt on the site.[13]
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