Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
Beijing - Coal Hill Street Scenes and the Forbidden City
This delightful colour film features Beijing's Forbidden City, the Summer and Winter palaces as well as parks, processions, a drama school and a Chinese picnic.
From the collection of:
Overview
Many of Beijing's architectural treasures feature in this film. We start at Coal Hill and the artificial mound, Jingshan. Next we see various processions on Beijing's streets, where traffic consists of rickshaws, bicycles and the occasional motorcar. There are also extensive views of the Forbidden City, followed by the Summer and Winter Palaces before moving to a drama school where children practice martial arts and dance routines. The film ends with a Chinese picnic.
S. Howard Hansford was an archaeologist and jade expert based at London University. He published a number of authoritative books on the subject of jade, as well as contributing several academic papers and contributions to journals on Chinese decorative art. During the Second World War, Professor Hansford worked on code-breaking at Bletchley Park. The few visitors to the Forbidden City, as seen in this film, contrasts sharply with the experience today - when it's estimated that 7 million people will visit the Imperial Palace complex each year.
Related
Watch for free
Modern China Modern China
Non-Fiction 1910 8 mins Silent Location: Beijing
Extraordinary and exquisite views of life and landscape in Beijing during the late Qing dynasty.
Watch for free
Peking and Its Surroundings Peking and Its Surroundings
Travelogue 1910 6 mins Location: Qinglongqiao
The austere beauty of the Great Wall of China's rugged mountain passes, in a travelogue tracing a caravan of camels' journey to Beijing.
Watch for free
Visit to Beijing and the Forbidden City Visit to Beijing and the Forbidden City
Amateur film 1929 2 mins Silent Location: Beijing
Beijing's Forbidden City is the star attraction in this film from the late 1920s, featuring historic buildings, the Lion's Gate and an early panorama across the city.
Watch for free
My Oriental Friends, From Penang to Peking My Oriental Friends, From Penang to Peking
Amateur film 1933 16 mins Silent Location: Hong Kong
This unique and beautiful tour of Southeast Asia and China is a treasure trove of picturesque views of Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing.
Watch for free
Summer Palace Beijing and Tsientsin Summer Palace Beijing and Tsientsin
Amateur film 1929 3 mins Silent Location: Beijing
Dancing bears and camels feature in views of Beijing's Summer Palace in the late 1920s filmed by an expat couple who are later seen enjoying a traditional Chinese meal.
Watch for free
Wanderings in Peking Wanderings in Peking
Amateur film 1939 11 mins Silent Location: Taimiao (Imperial Ancestral Temple)
These wanderings of an amateur filmmaker take in city streets, markets and Chinese acrobats in lively 1930s Beijing.
Watch for free
Beijing / Shantou c.1932 Beijing / Shantou c.1932
Amateur film 1932 2 mins Silent Location: Beijing
Home movie snapshots take in a visit to a rock-face, a Beijing temple and skilled Shantou seamstresses hard at work in Guangdong Province, South China.
Watch for free
Beijing Extract 1 c.1932 Beijing Extract 1 c.1932
Amateur film 1932 2 mins Silent Location: Beijing
This amateur film from the Eng family's collection includes views of the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven.
Watch for free
Modern China Modern China
Non-Fiction 1910 8 mins Silent Location: Beijing
Extraordinary and exquisite views of life and landscape in Beijing during the late Qing dynasty.
Watch for free
Wanderings in Peking Wanderings in Peking
Amateur film 1939 11 mins Silent Location: Taimiao (Imperial Ancestral Temple)
These wanderings of an amateur filmmaker take in city streets, markets and Chinese acrobats in lively 1930s Beijing.
Watch for free
Summer Palace Beijing and Tsientsin Summer Palace Beijing and Tsientsin
Amateur film 1929 3 mins Silent Location: Beijing
Dancing bears and camels feature in views of Beijing's Summer Palace in the late 1920s filmed by an expat couple who are later seen enjoying a traditional Chinese meal.
Watch for free
Peking March/April 1937 Peking March/April 1937
Amateur film 1937 14 mins Silent Location: Tiantan (Temple of Heaven)
Indulge in a spot of time-travel with this 1930s sightseeing tour of ancient Chinese monuments.
Watch for free
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Watch for free
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
Watch for free
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Watch for free
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Watch for free
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Watch for free
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.