19世纪正值中国对外贸易、中西交流的兴盛时期,1842年被迫开埠之前,广州作为全国唯一通商口岸成为很多外国商人、传教士、旅行家进入中国的通道。由于广州城依珠江而建且河网交织,船在城市日常生活、市场贸易、交通运输、对外贸易等各方面发挥着重要作用。西方人乘船初入广州,以船为媒介,从各式各样的船来认识、了解广州,又通过广州初识中国。 The 19th century coincided with the rise of China’s foreign trade and Sino-Western exchanges. Before being forced to open in 1842, Guangzhou, as the only trade port in the country, became a gateway for many foreign businessmen, missionaries, and travellers to enter China. Because Guangzhou City is built on the Pearl River and the river network is intertwined, the boat plays an important role in urban daily life, market trade, transportation, and foreign trade. Westerners entered Guangzhou by boat and used the ship as a medium to understand and understand Guangzhou from all kinds of ships, and to learn about China through Guangzhou.