Canton and Sichuan Railway Crisis
After the Boxer Rebellion, many Western countries saw China as a good target for railway building and investment. Having carved out their individual spheres of influence, countries such as the United Kingdom and France built numerous railways over the Qing government's protests. Germany began building lines in Shandong, the British in Yangtze Valley, French in Kunming, Russians in Heilongjiang and the Japanese had the Southern Manchuria Railway company.
By 1905, however, the Canton-Hankou Railway and the Sichuan-Hankou railway (川漢鐵路) were being locally managed in Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei and Sichuan. The railways were meant to link up with the rest of China.
In May 1911 the Qing government ordered the nationalization of railway lines, previously paid for by local private investors, in order to pay for the indemnities imposed by the Boxer Protocol. The announcement to nationalize the railways and pay back debts to the antagonistic victors of the Boxer Rebellion--mainly Great Britain, Germany, France and the US--was met with much opposition. Protests were held in Changsha and people in Guangdong boycotted government banknotes. By July the Qing government compensated the investors, but the amount offered to Sichuan was much lower than all other provinces.
By August 11 there were massive strikes and rallies at Chengdu. Gov. Zhao Erfeng, in a panic, ordered the arrest of the nobles. New Army units in Wuhan were stationed in Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang at the time.
Read more about this topic: Wuchang Uprising
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