Qiongzhou (Haikou) Harbour, Hainan Island, China: a fort. Photograph by John Thomson, 1870.

View across water to a hexagonal tower, surrounded by a defensive masonry wall with machicolations. By comparison with John Thomson's photograph no. 284 (Wellcome Library no. 18830i), identified as a fort at the entrance to Qiongzhou (Haikou) Harbour, Hainan Island, 1870. Qiongzhou, known today as Haikou, was the main port of Hainan island off the southern coast of China. It became a part of China’s Guangdong province in 1370. Although it was listed as one of the ports to be opened to foreign trade in the Treaty of Tianjin in 1858, it was not until 1872 that Qiongzhou was finally opened up and a British consul appointed to reside there. This photograph was taken two years before Qiongzhou became an open port; it shows one of the two forts at the entrance to the harbour. At the time of Thomson’s visit Qiongzhou was a walled city, 'cleaner' and 'better kept' than most Chinese cities. It was surrounded by lavish countryside rich in agricultural produce