Scottish travel writer and photographer John Thomson was one of the first western photographers to travel to the Far East. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, he travelled extensively in China, recording what he saw for posterity.

From elaborately dressed brides to working fishermen, Thomson captured landscapes and city scenes, people and places. The result is a captivating insight into the everyday lives of Chinese people almost 150 years ago.

After touring the Far East, Thomson returned to the UK, where he gained fame for his street photography of London people. He is now regarded as one of the pioneers of photojournalism.

▼ A Boatwoman, (Guangzhou, Guangdong 1869–70)

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▼ The Veranda of a Chinese Teahouse, (Hong Kong, 1868–71)

In this next photo, a portrait artist looks away from the camera as he works on a painting. The artist’s hair is in the traditional queue (or cue) style, a long braid worn by men.

▼ A Chinese Portrait Artist, (Hong Kong 1869)

Sedan chairs were an early form of public transport in Hong Kong, and could be hired from stands found at hotels and major crossroads.

▼ Sedan Chair, (Hong Kong 1868–71)

▼ A Manchu Bride, (Beijing 1871–72)

▼ Pedder Street, looking north from the intersection with Des Voeux Road (Hong Kong, 1869-71)

▼ A Cantonese Schoolboy, (Guangzhou, Guangdong, 1869–70)

▼ Fishtail Rock (To Kwa Wan Island or Hoi Sham Island) off To Kwa Wan, Kowloon (Hong Kong 1869-71)

▼ Praya or Des Voeux Road, Hong Kong, and St John’s Cathedral. (Hong Kong, 1869-71)

▼ Cochrane Street with Lyndhurst Terrace slices across the background, Wellington Street crosses the middle and a pawn shop on the Northeast corner, Central (Hong Kong, 1869-71)

▼ A photograph taken on Lyndhurst Street in the Central District during H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh’s brief visit in 1869 (Hong Kong, 1869)

▼ Regatta at Victoria Harbour (Hong Kong, 1871)

▼ Cemetery in Happy Valley, with the gable end of the roof of the Chapel of Ease appears behind the bamboos on the left edge (Hong Kong, 1869-71)

▼ A Foreign Settlement, (Shantou, Guangdong 1871)

▼ Queen’s Road East, close to where the old Wanchai Market is (Hong Kong, 1869-71)

▼ Kellett’s Island, looking west or WSW across Wanchai towards Central and the Peak, with HMS Princess Charlotte (1858-1875)

▼ City Hall with two posed Chinese males at the base of the building’s near corner (Hong Kong, 1869-71)

▼ A Cantonese beauty holds an open painted fan and stands before a folding screen (Guangzhou, Guangdong, 1869-71)

▼ A Cantonese Family of Kowloon, (Hong Kong 1869)

▼ Racecourse, Happy Valley, from the south side of Morrison Hill looking ESE over the race course to Jardine’s Lookout (Hong Kong, 1869-71)

▼ An old woman on street (Guangzhou, Guangdong, 1868-70)

▼ A Cantonese Woman, (Guangzhou, Guangdong, 1869–70)

Source: vintage everyday via karapaia

All images: via vintage everyday