A Cantonese Schoolboy
Photograph by John Thomson
Although Thomson often quibbled about the old
system of education in China, he was greatly impressed by the
diligence and aptitude of Chinese schoolboys, and their capacity in
acquiring knowledge. He also noted in different parts of the
country there were attempts to modernise the education system, and
some schools had adopted western learning. This boy looks straight
ahead rigorously, as if he is looking into the future.