Foochow Arsenal

The Foochow Arsenal, also Mawei Arsenal was one of several shipyards in China built under orders from Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang, leaders of the Qing government's Self-Strengthening Movement (Zìqiáng, 自强) during the mid to late 19th century. The shipyard was situated in Mamoi (now Mawei), a port town within the jurisdiction of Foochow (now Fuzhou), which is several miles up the Min River.

Planning for the shipyard, the naval school (船政学堂), and other facilities began in 1866 and 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. Chinese authorities provided the materials and labour; the operating cost over the five years was estimated at 3 million taels, and the cost of maintenance of the ships produced was partly funded by revenue from duties on the import of opium. The first ship produced at the Arsenal, the 150 horsepower Wan-nien Ch'ing (Ch'ing Forever), was launched in June 1869.

The shipyard was almost entirely destroyed by French forces in 1884 during the Sino-French War of 1883-1885, in the battle of Fuzhou. A modern shipyard was later rebuilt on the site.