All the regular grocery stores Jopen, and are well stocked and expect to continue #0, Their prices are approximately in the same relation Jas heretofore to those ruling in Shanghai and 'Tientsin. Everything - 1s, however, much dearer this year. The cost of living for the Chinese having Increased "enormously, adjustments have to be made accordingly in the' wages. A rough estimate, by _and large, is an increase of 100 per cent. jon the cost of running a home over: ast year. Hotel prices also have to {go up very considerably, and it Jdimeult to understand how they are fable to quote a fixed price at all, as food costs change almost daily and always upwards.
As to householders, bringing stores from Shanghai with them they would such extent protect themselves: against both possible shortage and increased prices.
Regarding hotel charges; this is a matter for individual approach. There fare so many different kinds and types that there can be no general average struck. As to where to stay, this again is a matter of individual taste and pocket. The beautiful Pine (Clif hotel is very rightly the pride for Peitaiho Beach, and is a bit of modern California transplanted. Thera Jare other good hotels. and. guest /Houses, but {oo numerous to mention, Jand how best for anyone who has no Jconnections up here to get into touch with the one most suitable for them, really don't know; but I would sug-[gest such writing to Mr. W. T. Rose (himself an. old. Shanghai resident) Je/o Rosés Agency, Peitatho Beach {telling him just what avas wanted, oF to the Peitatho Agency here. Both of these agencies are fully conversant with conditions up here and are always willing to" help in fuding houses (and possibly hotels) for such jas need them. I understand, in this Jeonnection, that this season there has been an unprecedented demand for houses and that additional hotels are Jopening up with the very reasonable Jexpectaney of @ bumper guest list.
Method of Transit The two ports of entry are Tientsin (Tongku) and Chinwangtao, There fore regular steamers to. the former fand the MIA. run their own ships to. the latter, both from Shanghai [Chinwangtao is the better port for Peitatho Beach which Is almost next jdoor—half an hour on the main oilway line and a fifteen minute run jon the Beach line being all. The MIA, look after. their passengers upon arrival excellently, their porter being a wonder, From Tientsin (preferably from Tongku) the run is about five hours. The trains are excellent as is the service.
There is of course the all-rail route_ from Shanghai to Tientsin via Nanking. But information regarding this obtainable in Shanghai, 1 under-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.