Nankin Road, Shanghai (1901) - China on Film | BFI National Archive

Nankin Road, Shanghai (1901) | BFI National Archive

An extraordinary window on to the heart of cosmopolitan Shanghai over a hundred years ago - a true melting pot of cultures. Today the city's main shopping hub, Nanjing Road is here bustling with crowds of Chinese and Europeans and patrolled by Sikhs who made up an important part of the international police force. It is the only known surviving example of the film reportage shot by British war correspondent Joe Rosenthal during his coverage of the Boxer Rebellion in China between 1900 and 1901.

[ShowginTV]

It's amazing to be able to see footage from the Qing Dynasty.

[eefacam]

Amazing! The film quality is remarkably good for 1901

[romeforeverr]

When this was taken queen victoria was still queen of England and china was ruled by an empress. Not even the last emperor/ empress of China but second to last, empress dowager cixi.

[hercules]

Wow! It's so amazing footage, thanks a lot admin.

[TheUsa]

I've visited this road before. Certainly looks different now. Huge Apple store and a costa coffee!

[MTran]

1901 quality better than video from the 2000's lol

[Alleur]

1:10, Sikh soldiers from British India.

[tvgerbil]

The film is over 120 years old and amazingly well preserved.

[wendyqallab]

I love to see old films they are wonderful.

[aiducha]

I wonder who is that impressive woman riding a bicycle along Nankin Road in 1901! We may never know the name. A Shanghailander for sure. Greetings from Winnipeg, Canada.

[overeasyeggs]

Weird thinking that a rebellion either just ended or is going on at this time

[Ufiles]

Europeans were already in China at that time. Wow

[daniluchison]

Caste system:
1- no horse 🐎 or human to carry them.
2- you have a human for horse
3- You have a horse carriage (high class)
4- Foreigners

[wingwong]

It has been a long journey for China to evolve into what it is today.

[jacobrocks]

Beautiful imagery from so long ago ..thanks

[courtly]

Explanation for the people with turbans in the video: they used to be foreign guard sentries of Shanghai, usually used to uphold order within alleys, especially shikumen alleys and manor entrances

[Kitty]

British India Sikh Regiment soldiers marching on Shanghai street in 1901.

[helloworld]

Its weird that life in 1200s would probably be very similar.

[taiwanapocalypse]

Compared with more than 100 years, the main changes are living habits such as thinking, food, clothing, housing and transportation.

[YappieKitchen]

That looks like the British army walking around like they own the place.