By Yuling Chen, EDITOR
More than a century ago, Chongqing Chaotianmen Dock in southwest China witnessed a hubbub of voices.
Chaotianmen Dock in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality witnesses bustling and hustling here. (Photo from the image document of Forever Chaotianmen)
People came here and went away for freight delivery.
These time-honored images are exhibited in a modern megacity and, as a record of then living scenes, remind contemporaries of Chongqing’s history.
Chaotianmen Dock at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Jialing River used to be one of seventeen ancient gates in the municipality.
The photo document of Forever Chaotianmen is the last one of Urban Development Trilogy in Yuzhong district, referred to as Chongqing’s mother town. The previous two of the trilogy are Farewell Shibati and Hello Hualongqiao.
Chongqing Chaotianmen Dock in 1910
Forever Chaotianmen records Chongqing’s development and change by photos. “As a wrap-up for Yuzhong Urban Development Trilogy, Forever Chaotianmen reflects the most information. It is valuable,” said He Zhiya, an expert on Chongqing urban planning as well as history and culture scholar, and added, “It extends the reflection of Chaotianmen history to Chongqing’s past at large.”
A lot of Chongqing locals come and go by Huguang Guild Hall in Chongqing, China. (Photo from the image document of Forever Chaotianmen)
The prosperity of Chaotianmen in 1910 did not mean neon lamps or skyscrapers. It was all about bustling and hustling. Wooden boats berthed at the dock. Hard-working people delivered goods with a single shoulder pole, up and down the long stone steps.
Chongqing men wearing long hairs sit or lie on Chaotianmen Dock. (Photo from the image document of Forever Chaotianmen)
Chaotianmen in Photographer Gamble’s Camera
In 1917, Sidney David Gamble, American expert on China and socioeconomist, visited China and left precious images about Chongqing. Through his camera, we can have a glimpse of vivid portraits at that time and sense their inner peace.
Wooden boats are berthed at Chongqing Chaotianmen Dock. (Photo by Sidney David Gamble)
Source: CQCB