Royal Commonwealth Society : Panoramic view of the Shanghai Bund, 1898

Tuck Tai, - , fl 1898, photographer

Royal Commonwealth Society

2220 x 198 mm. A panoramic view, composed from 8 joined prints contained in boards with a leather titlepiece on the cover reading 'Shanghai Bund Tuck Tai Photographer'. The only identification given with the panorama is that of the Customs House in the fourth section. The view is taken from the south (Pootung) side of the river on the headland formed by the 90 degrees curve of the Whangpoo. The panorama embraces an angle of view of some 250 degrees and shows the following landmarks (from left to right): Section 1.View looking southwards towards the Chinese city, with shipping moored along the Quai de Wampoo and the Quai de France in the French Settlement.Section 2.View looking southwards towards the Quai de Wampoo.Section 3.View looking SW. At the extreme left are the offices of Messageries Maritimes, near the Yang King Pang Creek which marks the northern boundary of the French Settlement. Just to the right of this is the Time Ball. The Shanghai Club with its columns and pediment, can be seen in the centre of the print.Section 4.View looking westwards. In the centre of the print is the Customs House. Immediately to the left is the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, and to the right the Deutsch-Asiaatische Bank, with the spire of Trinity Cathedral in the background.Section 5.View looking westwards. The second building from the left is the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China. Beside it is the Central Hotel. A water tower can be seen towards the right of the print.Section 6.View looking NW. At the extreme left is the British Consulate, with the Public Gardens and bandstand just to the right on the water's edge. In the distance can be seen the spire of the Union Church in Soochow Road. In the centre of the print is the Garden Bridge which crosses Soochow Creek and leads to the northern and eastern districts of the city. Immediately behind the bridge on the N bank is the Astor House Hotel, with the large white building of the German Consulate in the foreground and the Japanese Consulate at the right.Section 7.View looking N. This view looks towards the waterfront of the eastern district of the city, with the Nippon Yusen Kaisha warehouses and wharf at the centre of the print and Head's Wharf to the right.Section 8.View looking NE. Showing the easternmost part of the city, with the Yangtse Poo Road leading to open country at the right. Among the wharves in the left and central portions of the print are the Shanghai and Hongkew, and Jardine's Associated Wharves.