This series of hand-coloured engravings by the watercolourist William Alexander was first published in 1805. The book depicts various scenes of life in China witnessed by Alexander whilst serving as draughtsman for the embassy of George Macartney in 1793.

The embassy was an attempt by Britain to open trade with China. Macartney’s efforts failed to persuade the Emperor and the embassy was ultimately unsuccessful. However, its cultural impact was great. The embassy took place at a time when interest in Chinese art and culture was high in Britain and descriptions of the country were highly prized. The work covers not only the general appearance of the various ethnic groups within China, but also includes detailed images of Chinese ships and urban landscapes, providing an interesting insight into late eighteenth-century perceptions of China and its population.