City and its surroundings

Author: Fang Lin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: This is a collection of old photographs. The book includes precious images that depict the appearance of six Chinese cities in the late 19th century, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Ningbo, Hong Kong, and Weihaiwei. These photographs were acquired by collector Fang Lin from overseas, mostly taken by foreign photographers who came to China at the time, authentically recreating the landscapes of some Chinese cities and their surroundings. The photographs collected here are Fang Lin’s collection. Fang Lin’s hobby of collecting old photographs and postcards has yielded remarkable achievements, impressing many. Nowadays, due to outdated concepts or financial constraints, some official institutions specializing in historical photographs often fail to make significant contributions, while private collectors frequently achieve notable results. Like Fang Lin, who has dedicated himself to this for over a decade without interruption, though he considers it a "hobby," his contributions to society are evident. A few years ago, Fang Lin published his collection of late Qing postcards under the title Old Dreams Reawakened, presenting a vivid portrayal of late Qing Chinese society from a unique perspective. Its value far exceeds mere collection, attracting widespread attention from lovers of history and culture. These photographs were all acquired by Fang Lin from overseas, mostly taken by foreign photographers who came to China at the time, authentically recreating the landscapes of some Chinese cities and their surroundings. It should be said that presenting these photographs in this manner was not the collector’s original intention, nor was it the result of deliberate effort. Rather, it was a choice made after the collector and publisher carefully examined the photographs, with a certain degree of randomness. From the cities depicted in the photographs—only Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Ningbo, Hong Kong, and Weihaiwei—it is insufficient to reflect the overall development of Chinese cities at the time and lacks a systematic perspective.