Rare Photographs Show Late 19th Century Peking

Photographs taken by Thomas Child, an employee of the  Imperial Maritime Customs Service, documenting 1870-1880 Peking are currently on display in London, the BBC reports. The rare specimens demonstrate just how much the city has changed (and what has stayed the same) over the past 140 years, and mostly depict a sparse land lacking in plants or people.
 

The above image is one of the first images of religious figures in Peking, showing a Tibetan Buddhist monk, or Lama.
 

Interestingly, this photograph Child took of the Great Wall shows how barren the land was in this particular area during the 19th century, compared to today, where the Great Wall’s surroundings are green and luscious, making for even more breathtaking photographs.
 

The Forbidden City is also a stark contrast to the throngs of tourists that it encapsulates in present day, as visitors were not allowed to pass within the city walls. The gate was only opened for the emperor to pass through on special state occasions.

Overall, the pictures provide a rare glimpse into a drastically different city to the one we live in today and capture traditions and lifestyles that have vanished over time. See the full set here.

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Photos: BBC; Thomas Child