CHINESE SCHOOL

CHINESE SCHOOL, OIL ON CANVAS

C.1830

Depicting Whampoa Reach seen from Dane's Island with American, British and Dutch ships at anchor, with distant pagodas, 52cm x 77cm.

This large and fine view of the anchorage at Whampoa (Huangpu) is taken from a hill overlooking the foreign cemetery on Dane's Island. In the distance is the Whampoa (Pazhou) Pagoda, on Pazhou Island, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, which survives today. The pagoda was a landmark for Western sailors and is featured in many Chinese paintings for the Western market. It was at Whampoa that Western ships were made to anchor in the Pearl River, with only officers continuing on to Canton. American and other foreign ships are at anchor, and the buildings used by foreign traders can be seen in the distance. Chigang pagoda, now surrounded by the southern suburbs of Guangzhou can be seen on the left.