A Chinese man pushing a heavily laden single-wheeled wheel barrow. He wears a hat and loose jacket, and short trousers. The load being transported is large trunks and cases strapped onto the platforms jutting from either side of the front wheel. Behind him is the front of a second heavily laiden wheel barrow, also carrying large trunks and boxes.

In the background is a two storey European-style stone building with a single storey extension/courtyard? in front. The name above the archway, partially obscured by the branch of a tree, reads 'Kelly & Walsh', who were Shanghai-based English language publishers founded in 1876. The firm was based at this time at No. 11 The Bund, Shanghai.

The original negative envelope was labelled: 'Wheel barrow coolie, Shanghai 1900'.