Camels and Marines in Old China

Maybe because I was a history major in college, old newsreels fascinate me. I’ve just discovered a treasure trove of early 20th-century travel films at the Travel Film Archive and spent some time scrolling through several China entries. One 1931 film in particular—Ghosts of Empire-Peking—caught my attention for its unusual variety of street scenes. The film opens with a line of camels trooping through the city gates, then continues with clips of a boy barber at work, a close-up of a Chinese woman’s bound feet and a U.S. marine parade. Not your standard travel promo, but sure makes Beijing look like an interesting place to visit. (via quirkyBeijing)

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