2nd Belooch Regiment of Native Infantry, Bombay, outside the Ning Po Joss-House, China, 1860

Photograph by Felice Beato (1825-1907), 2nd China War (1856-1860), 1860.

The failure of the Chinese to adhere to the full terms of the Treaty of Nanking (1842), and interference with British commercial shipping, led to the despatch of a punitive force in 1857. Canton was captured in January 1858, and the Treaty of Tientsin signed on 20 May 1858, brought hostilities to a close. However, a further show of force was thought to be necessary in 1860, during which the Taku Forts were occupied on 12 August and Beijing on 12 October. Like other Joss-houses or temples, that at Ning Po, about 128km almost due south of Shanghai, was ideally constructed for defence, having a single entrance in an outer enclosure wall.

From a photograph album of 39 photographs.