1890 Photographs of Macao Cityscape, Zhenhai Tower (Canton/ Guangzhou)

Colonial Macao and Guangzhou Five-Story Pagoda.

This is a c. 1890 set of albumen photographs of Macao and the Five-Story Pagoda in Canton (Guangzhou), taken by an unknown photographer. Together, the images offer a glimpse of the colonial and semi-colonial climate in cities in southern China during the late Qing.

A Closer Look

The mounted images include two on the recto (measuring 6.5 x 9.5 in) and one on the verso (8 x 10.75 in) of a single card. The recto images depict panoramic views of Macao from opposite angles, centered on a string of waterfront colonial buildings, including the Government House (Palacio do Governo). In the top photograph, oriented towards the south, the hilltop church in the distance (perhaps the location from which the bottom photograph was taken) is Our Lady of Penha. In 1935, the building seen here was demolished and the chapel rebuilt. Likewise, in the photograph at the bottom, oriented towards the north, the hilltop structure to the right (from which the top photograph may have been taken) is likely the military complex atop Guia Hill. At left in the bottom photograph are the Ruins of St. Paul's (Ruínas de São Paulo), perhaps Macao's most distinctive structure, the remains of an early 17th-century church destroyed by fire in 1835. To its right is the hilltop Fort São Francisco.

The verso photograph captures the Five-Story Pagoda in Guangzhou (Canton), a major landmark and symbol of the city. Here it is partially surrounded by a wall, reflecting its original intended use as a lookout tower and military outpost.

Colonial Macao

In the late 19th century, Macao underwent a profound political transition from a loosely defined Portuguese settlement to a formal colonial possession. For centuries, the Portuguese had paid an annual rent to the Ming and Qing to maintain their presence on the peninsula. However, following the British acquisition of Hong Kong in 1842, Portugal sought to formalize its status. After decades of tensions, the territory's status was formalized with the 1887 Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Peking, an 'unequal treaty' that granted Portugal the right of 'perpetual occupation and government' provided they helped curb the rampant smuggling of opium in the region (however, the treaty deliberately left the concept of absolute sovereignty vague, a point of contention that would resurface a century later). Having been commercially eclipsed by Hong Kong, Macao shifted towards a 'vice economy' built around opium, human trafficking (Chinese indentured laborers shipped to plantations abroad), and the legalization and taxation of gambling. This era also saw significant urban modernization, including major reclamation projects along the inner harbor. These developments transformed Macao into a cosmopolitan, if somewhat notorious, 'European oasis' in South China, characterized by a unique blend of Luso-Chinese architecture and a flourishing social scene of traders, missionaries, and refugees.

The Five-Story Pagoda

The Five-Story Pagoda, or Zhenhai Tower, is one of Guangzhou's most iconic historical landmarks, perched atop Yuexiu Hill. It was first constructed in 1380 during the early Ming Dynasty by Zhu Liangzu, the Marquis of Yongjia. Unlike traditional religious pagodas, it was primarily built as a military watchtower to oversee the city and the Pearl River, reflected in its name, which translates to 'Guarding the Sea' (鎭海). Beyond its military utility, the tower was also steeped in geomancy (fengshui); it was believed that placing such a massive structure on the hill would suppress unfavorable influences flowing from the north and bring peace to the region.

Throughout its six-century history, the tower has proven to be a resilient symbol of the city, having been destroyed and rebuilt five times due to wars and fires. For most of its history, it was the tallest structure in Guangzhou and served as a symbol for the city as a whole. The structure seen in the photograph here was rebuilt after the Revolt of the Three Feudatories early in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), and was itself burned down by 'Guangxi Clique' warlords in the early Republican period (1912 - 1949), being rebuilt in 1928 and then becoming the home of the Guangzhou Municipal Museum, a purpose which it retains today. The current structure, characterized by its striking red sandstone base and multi-tiered green-tiled roofs, retains the majestic architectural style of the Ming despite being a 20th-century reconstruction.

Publication History and Census

These photographs were taken by an unknown photographer around the year 1890. We are unaware of any other examples in institutional collections or on the market.

Condition

Very good. Mounted albumen photographs. Image represents recto (front) and verso (back) of single card.