The archives of François Nuyens, Belgian engineer in Tianjin, China, from 1905 until 1908

Download link for all photos in the two main albums.

The remarkable photographic archives and diary of a young Belgian engineer:

François Nuyens left Ghent for the city of Tianjin in 1905 where he built a power station and a tram network.
In a well-documented diary Nuyens writes down his impressions of his stay in China between 1905 and 1908.
This archive comprises his original diary, composed in that period, which served as the basis for a large part of the recent publication 'A Belgian passage to China (1870-1930): Belgian-Chinese historical relations (1870-1930) and the construction of the railway and the tramway network based on the personal documents and pictures of François Nuyens and Philippe & Adolphe Spruyt'.

It also contains his photo albums, in which he documents his professional as well as social life. Not only does he document the construction works, the day-to-day occupation and the general aspects of life in China, his collection of glass negatives also documents the cruel public executions and punishments from this period.

Part of his diary was published on a regular basis in the 'Gazette van Gent', of which a few examples are also included.
Also included are a number of personal invitations, some less important litterature, his original contract with the CTET (Compagnie internationale de Tramways et d’Eclairage de
Tientsin) as well as a copy of his obituary.

A Chinese and Dutch copy of the book 'A Belgian passage to China' are also included.