A foreign warship lies moored alongside a bustling river wharf in a major Chinese treaty port, its tripod mast and spotting top characteristic of interwar naval vessels that patrolled Chinese waters to protect international commercial interests. Nearby, a passenger ferry and small rowing boats continue the everyday rhythm of river life, while a skyline of European-style buildings along the waterfront reflects the international character of cities like Shanghai in the years leading into and through World War II. Images such as this preserve a vanished era of foreign naval presence and treaty-port life in China. Project: 218357