Fantasy China (Bilingual Edition Chinese-English bilingual) / Editorial consultant: Li Lifang, etc.

In the eyes of Westerners, China in the Qing Dynasty is mysterious and beautiful, from the gorgeous painted boats on the Pearl River to the three-inch golden lotus wrapped by women, all of which arouse great curiosity among Westerners. These fantasies about China created business opportunities for exporting paintings. Tongcao paper paintings using Western painting techniques were popular in Guangzhou during the late Qing Dynasty in the 19th century. Because the paintings were full of Chinese style, cheap and easy to carry, they became extremely popular among European and American businessmen, collectors, sailors and other people staying in the port. souvenir. Small papyrus paintings not only help narrow the gap in mutual understanding between China and the West, but also reflect Westerners' romantic imagination of this foreign land. This album displays the Tongcao paper paintings collected in the Library of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and painted in Guangzhou in the 19th century, presenting vivid scenes of life in the past. After traveling across the ocean for nearly two centuries, these beautiful yet fragile “postcards” have returned to their place of origin. Although things have changed and time has passed, China's rich people's livelihood a hundred years ago has been preserved through thin papyrus paintings, and it is still splendid and colorful before us. The Qing Dynasty of China was perceived as mysterious and beautiful in the eyes of Westerners. From the magnificent pleasure boats on the Pearl River to women with bound feet, all these sparked great curiosity among Europeans and Americans. These fantasies about China created a lucrative market for export paintings. Pith paper paintings, which adopted Western painting techniques, were prevalent in Guangzhou during the late Qing period in the 19th century. Due to their Chinese themes, affordable prices and portability, these paintings became popular souvenirs among European and American traders, collectors, and sailors residing at the port. These small pith paper paintings not only helped bridge the gap of mutual understanding between the East and the West, but also reflected the Westerners' romantic imagination of this exotic land. This album showcases the pith paper paintings collected by the Chinese University of Hong Kong Library. Created in 19th-century Guangzhou, these artworks vividly depict daily life scenes of that era. After almost two centuries, these beautiful yet fragile “postcards” have returned to their place of origin. Despite the changes over time, the rich social landscape of China from a century ago is preserved through these delicate pith paper paintings, still radiating with vibrant colors before us. Full name: A Vibrant Voyage from China Pith Paintings at the Chinese University of Hong Kong Library (Bilingual Edition Chinese and English) Editorial consultant: Li Lai Fong, Ching May Bo ISBN: 978-988-237-331-0 Binding: Hardcover on cloth Language: Chinese and English bilingual Number of pages: 134 Dimensions: 240 x 190 mm **Introduction to Editorial Consultants** **Li Lifang** Senior Assistant Librarian, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Library Li Lai Fong Associate University Librarian, The Chinese University of Hong Kong **Cheng Meibao** Professor and chair of the Department of Chinese and History, City University of Hong Kong, and Pearl River Scholar Distinguished Professor of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions (Sun Yat-sen University). The main research fields are modern Chinese social and cultural history, Lingnan history, historical anthropology, etc. Ching May Bo Professor of History at the Department of Chinese and History, the City University of Hong Kong, and the “Distinguished Professor of the Pearl River Scholars” of Guangdong Province (Sun Yat-sen University). Her research interests include social and cultural history of modern China, the history of South China, and historical anthropology.