The House of Mr Yang, c.1872 (b/w photo)

John Thomson describes Mr Yang thus; "A gentleman enormously rich, and holding an official rank in Peking. His abode is walled around and is entered only by a plain doorway through a high brick wall which skirts an obscure alley. Within the door were two silk lanterns dangling from supports above and daubed with the name and titles of Yang. This picture shows the kind of buildings which divide one court from another. The heavy tiled roof reflects the heat and keeps out the cold while the veranda can be thrown entirely open or kept closely shut. The group represents my friend Mr. Yang, his son, and a party of the ladies and younger children of his household."