Photograph depicting a Ningpo sampan at Shanghai. A Chinese man is shown at the helm of his Ningpo sampan holding onto the long scull centrally mounted at the stern between two main curved side strakes that terminate at a point. His left hand is resting on the scull while his right hand holds the rope attached to the scull end. The man, who faces the camera, is dressed in black trousers and black button down overshirt. He sports a traditional 'Queue' hairstyle.

The sampan has a characteristically high stern. There is a small flag on a pole at the stern and extra sculls are stowed on the starboard side behind the man. Just aft of midships is a small arched fabric deckhouse. Three vertical wooden fenders hang amidships. A longitudinal white washstrake is mounted internally along the length of the hull. The foredeck is covered, and at the bow a small anchor is stowed.

In the background are two European style brick built warehouses. Along the quay in front is an unidentified European steam vessel, with two masts and a single funnel. The deck is covered with awnings and two boats hang on davits on the portside. Just off the bow is a small steam launch, and passing along the broadside is a single-ended sampan loaded with goods with a crew of two.

The original negative envelope was labelled: 'Ningpo Tom. Shanghai. 1900' and the reverse of the accompanying contact print is labelled: 'A Ningpo Sampan, Shanghai, 1900.'