Westerners rowing up from Whampoa to Canton, for the cargo, late 18th century

A foreign boat with a ‘red cross’ flag (possibly the Cross of St. George or the English flag) is being rowed and a couple of loaded cargo junks are sailing near Whampoa, preparing to pay customs for the export porcelain.

This scene also shows several Canton landmarks: the island in the centre was originally called Sea Pearl Rock, with temples and shrines built on it. In the early Qing period 20 cannons were installed and it was renamed the Dutch Folly Fort. The pagoda in the background is the Flowery Pagoda of Liurong Temple which has been a local landmark since the 12th century.