Guangzhou has been renowned for overseas trade since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Chinese wallpaper was popular merchandise for export to foreign countries during the 18th and 19th centuries.
A set of hand-drawn wallpaper, dating to the Qianlong Reign (1736-1795) of the Qing Dynasty, depicts with fine brushwork the farming, tea trade scenes and people’s lives in Guangzhou city, Guangdong province. It was exported to the UK and decorated a manor house there.
The Guangdong Museum purchased the wallpaper in 2011 and has kept it in its permanent collection.