Beautiful hand-colourised photos of early 1900s China offer a glimpse of life in last years of imperial rule

Hand-colourised photos from early 1900s China, such as this one of the Huxinting tea house in Shanghai, offer a glimpse of life in the last years of imperial rule. They are on show in Hong Kong until December. Photo: Dezso Bozoky

Hand-coloured photographs by Hungarian Dezso Bozoky taken along China’s coast between 1908 and 1909 are on show at the University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG) of the University of Hong Kong until December 29.

The images, taken in Fujian province in the country’s southeast, and in Shanghai and Beijing, provide a glimpse of places and people both in the countryside and in cities, and reflect the photographer’s interest in nature and architecture and Qing dynasty street scenes.

A naval doctor, Bozoky, who travelled to the East during the first decade of the 20th century, recorded his journey in a diary and through photographs, which he developed himself – including many he took of Hong Kong, which were shown at UMAG in 2016.

View of Canton from Shamian Island (1908). Photo: Dezso Bozoky

Posing on the Great Wall at Shanhaiguan, (1908). Photo: Dezso Bozoky

Steamer on the West River (Xijiang) in Guangdong (1908). Photo: Dezso Bozoky

Rickshaw station outside the Qianmen gatehouse, Beijing (1908). Photo: Dezso Bozoky

The Rocking Stone (1908/1909). Photo: Dezso Bozoky

Cormorant fisherman, Fuzhou (1908). Photo: Dezso Bozoky

View from an upper floor of a five-storey pagoda (Zhenhai Tower), Canton (1908). Photo: Dezso Bozoky

Traffic at the Zhenyangmen (Qianmen) gatehouse, Beijing (1908). Photo: Dezso Bozoky

Sampans, Shanghai (1908/1909). Photo: Dezso Bozoky

SMS Kaiser Franz Joseph I, Shanghai (1908/09). Photo: Dezso Bozoky

Along China’s Coast: Dezso Bozoky’s Travel Photography 1908 to 1909

1/F, T.T. Tsui Building, UMAG, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pok Fu Lam. 9.30am to 6pm (Tuesday to Saturday) ; 1pm-6pm (Sunday). Closed on Mondays and public holidays. Ends December 29