A photograph entitled 'The Lover's Leap', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows of a stretch of the River Min, China, in the background is Five Tigers Mountain, the view was known to Europeans at the time as 'Lover's Leap'.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Buddhist Monks', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a group of monks, probably at Yongquan Buddhist Temple. Set in mountains near Fuzhou, it dates back to the early tenth century.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'A Small Temple at Ku-Shan', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows Yongquan Temple, Fujian, China, a Buddhist temple on Gushan Mountain that dates back to the early tenth century. About two hundred monks worked and lived at the temple at the time the photograph was taken.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'The Foreign Settlement', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows the European settlement and trading centre at Fuzhou on Nantai island, established after the Opium War of 1839 to 1842 when China was forced to accept Fuzhou as a treaty port. By the 1850s it was the main port in China and also the world’s largest tea-exporting centre.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Part of Lower Bridge', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a bridge across the River Min in Fuzhou, China. Crowds of people are gathered on this bridge to watch Thomson take this photograph.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Foochow Church', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a European church in Fuzhou, China. As part of the unequal treaties following the Opium War of 1839 to 1842 China was forced to accept Christian missionaries. As early as 1847 three American Methodists built the first Protestant church in Fuzhou. They were soon followed by other missionary groups from Britain.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'The Island Pagoda', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a pagoda known as Lo-Sing on an island in the River Min near Fuzhou, China.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Road to the Plantation', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows the tea plantations in the Paeling Hills above Fuzhou, China.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'The Altar of Heaven', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a scared site in the mountains above the River Min in China.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'The Banker's Glen', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows the valley known to Europeans as 'Banker's Glen' in the hills above Fuzhou, China.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Yuen Fu Rapid', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows rapids on the River Min, China.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Yuen Fu Monastery Cave', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a Buddhist monastery built into caves in Fujian Province, China.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Beggars', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a group of Chinese beggars. One man leans against a wall, smoking a long pipe. Two other figures huddle just inside the doorway of the building on the left.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Beggars', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a group of beggars in China, standing outside an open door.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Coolies', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows two labourers, or 'coolies', carrying jars or bundles of cloth on poles over their shoulders, the traditional way to carry goods in China.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'A Military Mandarin', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a Chinese government official riding into a village on a horse, led by a soldier in uniform carrying a long sword. A man watches in the background.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Field Women', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a group of agricultural workers. The women have their hair decorated in elaborate styles, perhaps for a festival or religious celebration.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Mode of Dressing the Hair', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

This portrait shows the details of the young woman's clothing, earrings and hairstyle.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'The Field Plough', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows two Chinese farmers using an ox to plough their field.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Fishing with Cormorants', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows two fishermen stand in small fishing boats just wide enough for them, their nets and the wicker baskets for holding their catch.

Catching fish with trained water birds dates back hundreds of years in China. A string is tied around the bird's neck to prevent it from swallowing any of the fish they catch.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'A Wreck in the Rapids', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a boatman on the riverbank staring out at the wreck caught on rocks in the River Min, China.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'A Reach of the Min', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a bend in the River Min, China. A man sits on a rock in the foreground admiring the view. He also provides a sense of scale in this landscape photograph.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'A Farm House', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a farm in Fujian province, an area of thickly forested mountains and fertile valleys. Here, a group of people look out from the balcony of a large building in the background over a complex of gardens and vegetable plots.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'An Orange Grove', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a group of people working in an orange grove in China. Three workers rest in the shade of a clump of bushes. They watch the approach of their overseer, carrying a parasol, as he walks towards them through the orange trees.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Rocks in the Rapid', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows rocks on the banks of the River Min, China.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'A Rustic Bridge', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a stone bridge across a stream in China. A group of adults and children have gathered to watch Thomson photograph this picturesque view.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'A Pine Raft', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows rafts of timber being floated down the River Min in China.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'A Rapid Boat', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a small boat working its way through rapids on the River Min below Yanping, or Nanping, in China. The River Min provided an important trade route south from Yanping to the port of Fuzhou, despite the dangerous rapids. Small boats like this carried goods through the rapids.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Yen Ping Rapid', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows rapids on the River Min just below Yanping, or Nanping, in China.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.

A photograph entitled 'Part of Yen Ping City', taken by John Thomson, c. 1871.

The photograph shows a view of Nanping, or Yen Ping City. Boats crowd the riverbank below the city. This was the furthest north that Thomson reached in his travels in Fujian province.

This photograph was published in the book, 'Foochow and the River Min' (1873), made by Thomson to document his travels up the River Min by boat from Fuzhou to Nanping, a distance of about 160 miles.