The business of migration: Xiamen in motion and transformation

Abstract

is article examines the post–Opium War development of Xiamen a er it was opened as a treaty port. While the British had hoped to use Xiamen as the beachhead for their economic advancement into China, foreign trade through the port failed to take o . Yet by the 1930s, Xiamen was one of the most prosperous and modern cities in China. What drove Xiamen to prosperity was not foreign trade or industrialization; rather, it was its evolvement into the preeminent migration hub of Fujian province. is article argues that migration itself was a big business and there was money to be made at every step of the migration process. Individuals and businesses congregated in Xiamen to help move people, which in turn enhanced its business environment. Many emigrants thus returned to reside and invest in Xiamen instead of bringing their money back to their home villages. eir business decisions helped accelerate the urbanization and modernization of the port city in the early 20th century, and overseas Chinese continue to in uence the fortune of Xiamen today.