Abstract
Peking_??__??_, Soochow_??__??_, Foshan_??__??_and Hankow_??__??_were, according to Liu Hsien-t'ing_??__??__??_, the geographer of that day, were four commercial centers in the 17th century China. Now T'ienchin_??__??_, Shanghai_??__??_and Canton_??__??_(or Hongkong_??__??_)has replaced the former three cities. This fact means that inland cities have lost their importance, and the seaside cities in neibourhood have taken their places. It means also that the inland navigation systems still have never changed since more than 300 years.
