Tag: River Thames

Qi Ying Hao - Qing Dynasty Ship - 1848

China: Qing Dynasty Ship – “Qi Ying Hao” [耆英号] – First Modern Chinese Vessel to Visit the West – and Never to Return! (11.3.2024)

The purpose of the “Qi Ying Hao” voyage is not very clear – based upon the extant information available. Certain information suggests that the driving force behind the scenes was a British business group. These investment capitalists intended to have a Chinese sailing ship sail around the Cape of Good Hope – and then sail to the United Kingdom – as a symbolic gift for Queen Victoria!

According to researchers, the “Qi Ying Hao” was secretly sold to the British in August of 1846, because at that time China had legal restrictions that prohibited the sale of ships to foreigners. In order to keep it secret, all the British people changed into Chinese clothes and a Chinese person was temporarily appointed as the Captain. He also used the ship as his personal yacht – and sailed the boat from Guangzhou to Hong Kong.

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Battersea Park: The Central Bandstand! (27.5.2023)

The River Wandle flows for around 9 miles – and originates in the Waddon Ponds and Carshalton Ponds area – a boundary area spanning East Surrey and Southwest Greater London (the London Borough of Sutton and Cheam). The River Wandle enters the right-bank of the River Thames in the vicinity now called ‘Wandsworth’. Both the river (and the place) are probably named after a mighty Saxon Warlord named ‘Waendel’ whose clan dominated a large swathe of Southern and Eastern England! Indeed, so powerful was this man’s reputation that his name came to dominate an entire British river! 

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