Many people are curious about what life was like for the Chinese under the Qing Dynasty. Let’s explore through the images below.
The image of the palanquin bearers for this official may surprise many, as they are all bare-chested, unlike the depictions we usually see in films.
During the Qing Dynasty, single-wheeled vehicles were very popular. In this photo, a wealthy man rides a single-wheeled vehicle while holding an umbrella for shade, looking quite fashionable.
In 1910, the Qing government purchased its first airplane from France and used a rope to pull it to Hankou Airport. Along the way, many curious onlookers rushed out to see this “giant creature.”
At that time, automobiles had been invented, but because the Qing Dynasty had been “closed off” for too long, many people were unfamiliar with and afraid of cars. This photo shows cars and horse-drawn carriages running parallel on the road, foreshadowing the impending decline of the Qing Dynasty.
An elderly woman with bound feet sits smoking in front of a door.
Women from the Xalxa Mongol ethnic group during the Qing Dynasty, looking very strong.
In 1890, two horses carried a palanquin, one in front and one behind, looking quite unusual.
A wooden bicycle from the Qing Dynasty. In fact, the term “bicycle” was first mentioned by a person named Zhang Deyi during the Qing period. In 1791, the French company Sitrak created the first wooden bicycle. Later, through technical improvements, the bicycle was equipped with handlebars and a chain. By 1888, the first modern bicycle was finally born.
