Fascinating Vintage Photos Capture Life in China in the Early 1920s

Life in China during the early 1920s was a study in stark contrasts, defined by a mesmerizing blend of ancient traditions and rapid modernization.

In cosmopolitan hubs like Shanghai and Guangzhou, the streets buzzed with a newfound energy as electric trams, early automobiles, and neon signs began to redefine the skyline. This was the era of the “Modern Girl,” where the traditional Qipao evolved into a stylish, body-hugging garment, and Western jazz mingled with Chinese opera in local tea houses. However, just beyond the glittering city gates, life remained largely agrarian and grueling, with the rural population facing the constant shadow of famine and the unpredictable whims of local warlords.

It was a decade of intense social flux, where the intellectual fervor of university students in Beijing sought to dismantle old Confucian hierarchies, while the majority of the nation still navigated a world governed by the lunar calendar and ancestral customs. These fascinating photos, via Wolfgang Wiggers, were taken by an unidentified German traveler to China in 1922.

At The Quay, China, 1922

At the South Gate, China, 1922

Carriers, China, 1922

City Wall, Kaying (Meizhou), China, 1922

Female Carrier, China, 1922

Female Carriers Waiting for Work, China, 1922

Female Carriers, China, 1922

Female Carriers, China, 1922

Ferry, China, 1922

Help With Housework, China, 1922

In the Temple, China, 1922

Little Temple, Probably Kaying (Meizhou), China, 1922

On the River, Probably Kaying (Meizhou), China, 1922

Overcrowded Harbor, Probably Kaying (Meizhou), China, 1922

Probably Kaying (Meizhou), China, 1922

Probably Kaying (Meizhou), China, 1922

Sedan Chair, China, 1922

Street in Kaying (Meizhou), China, 1922

Sugar Mill Near Wongthong. Today Huanggang (Raoping), China, 1922

Sugar Refinery West of Wongthong. Today Huanggang (Raoping), China, 1922

The North Wall, Kaying (Meizhou), China, 1922

The Patients, China, 1922

The Plum Merchant, China, 1922

The Weaver, China, 1922

The Western Doctor, China, 1922

Two Girls, China, 1922