A starboard side view, just forward of the broadside, of a three-masted Ningpo 'man of war' junk with all three sails set. The hull has a pronounced sheerline with large overhanging stern-counter and transom bow. Aft of the junk, in the distance is a small Bermuda rigged European yacht with both mainsail and headsail set. In the far distance is a low lying shoreline.

The original negative envelope was labelled: 'Ningpo junk, Shanghai. Oct 1900' and the reverse of the accompanying contact print is labelled: 'Man of war Junk near Shanghai. Oct 28th 1900'