Chinese wheelbarrow used in Peking taken from a collection of 109 objects illustrating life in Peking, model (scale 1:6)

This form of wheelbarrow, which has been in use from remote times in China, has advantages over the European arrangement in that it accommodates a much larger wheel, thereby reducing the rolling resistance, and in having the wheel almost directly under the load, thus throwing but very little weight on the user's arms; it, however, requires the load to be in two portions of nearly equal weight and is not capable of directly carrying or discharging loose material.

The shafts are framed together into an open platform, upon which is built a central structure covering the wheel and also affording facilities for securing the objects to be carried. The joints are made by mortising, but some of the parts are stayed by cords which are tightened by a twisting stick.