Kiau Chau (Kiao, Kiaochow, Kiautsucho), a former German trading enclave, including the port of Tsingtao, was located on the Shantung Peninsula of eastern China. Following the murder of two missionaries in Shantung in 1897, Germany occupied Kiaochow Bay, and during subsequent negotiations with the Chinese government obtained a 99 year lease on 177 sq. mi. of land. The enclave s established as a free port in 1899, and a customs house set up to collect tariffs on good moving to and from the Chinese interior. The Japanese took siege to the port on Aug. 27, 1914 as their first action in World War I to deprive German sea marauders of their east Asian supply and refitting base. Aided by British forces the siege ended on Nov. 7. Japan retained possession until 1922, when it was restored to China by the Washington Conference on China and naval armaments. It fell again to Japan in 1938, but not until the Chinese had destroyed its manufacturing facilities. Since 1949 it has been a part of the Peoples Republic of China. Rulers:,,, ,German, 1897-1914,, ,Japanese, 1914-1922, 1938-1945,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Dollar = 100 Cents,,