Old photos in the late Qing Dynasty: Is the Royal Garden burned by the British and French Allied Forces a camel or a commercial street in Beijing?

A beautifully decorated sedan chair. 1870, 29-year-old Englishman Thomas? Thomas Child came to Beijing and worked in the customs inspection department of the Qing Dynasty. During this period, he used his spare time to photograph a large number of royal gardens and the customs of old Beijing. Although he is not a professional photographer, his photography skills are superb. His works are not only precious historical materials, but also works of art?

Western architectural relics in Yuanmingyuan. 1860, British and French troops broke into Yuanmingyuan, looted and burned this magnificent building? Garden of ten thousand gardens? . When Chad came here to take photos, Yuanmingyuan had been destroyed 10 years ago, and the main structure of the west building was faintly discernible, and it was continuously destroyed in the following years until it was completely in ruins. ?

Remnants of the Blue Rock Boat in the Summer Palace. The bluestone boat is located in the northwest of Kunming Lake. The hull is carved from huge stones, with a total length of 36 meters. The ship is a two-story white wooden building, exquisite and gorgeous. However, when the British and French allied forces invaded in 1860, the small building on the ship was burned down and turned into the shape shown in the photo, leaving only the hull. 1893 When the Qing court rebuilt the Summer Palace, it restored the blue rock boat, and all the cabins were made of stone. ?

Wanshou Mountain and yanshou temple Site in the Summer Palace. The landscape around Wanshou Mountain was also burned by the British and French allied forces. From the photos, the huge Buddha pavilion has disappeared, most of the other buildings in the temple have fallen, and the ground is covered with weeds, which is a scene of depression. ?

Camels and camel drivers in Beijing. Camels in Beijing in the Qing Dynasty came from the western suburbs, bringing with them necessities such as coal and vegetables. Some people came from distant Mongolia and brought furs, carpets and medicinal materials. Camels have become an important trade tool in ancient times because they are good at long-distance travel.

A commercial street in Beijing. The facade of the shop is exquisite, and all kinds of decorations are made of wood, especially the three towering pillars are conspicuous and go straight into the sky, which means that wealth has soared. The street is muddy, probably not long after the rain.

Beijing section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. When Chad took photos, the Grand Canal was also responsible for grain transportation, which was very important for maintaining Beijing's grain supply. During Guangxu period, the Qing court announced the cancellation of grain transportation, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal gradually declined like the Qing Dynasty.

A portrait of a monk. Judging from his posture, his position should be very high. His robe is decorated with bird-shaped patches, which can only be used by civil servants in the Qing Dynasty. I wonder how he is qualified to wear them. The son said:? His robe is one of the most plump and gorgeous clothes in Beijing. ? The waiter stood respectfully aside, with Buddhist scriptures in the wooden box.