After 1842 the end of the Opium War between Britain and China effectively opened up the five main Chinese ports of Canton, Amoy, Ningpo, Shanghai and Foochow to European traders, who needed considerable naval protection from the persistent depredations of Chinese pirates. This view across the Pearl River at Canton in southern China looks towards the European 'factories' or trading posts, which the European merchants were not allowed to leave. Canton was the centre of China's tea trade with Europe and by 1794 Britain was buying four million kilograms of tea each year, in a trade strictly controlled by China. Steam communication between Hong Kong and Canton was regularized by the Hong Kong and Canton Steam Packet Company, which was founded on 19 October 1848. Since operations commenced in spring 1849, with two small London-built steamers of 250 tons each, this helps to date the painting.

The factories shown in the distance on the right fly the flags of their respective countries. Denmark is furthest right then Britain, and France with the United States of America in the centre. They are housed in buildings showing western influences and which dominate the skyline, towering over the smaller dwellings closer to the river. The land is shown as very crowded up to the shoreline, with buildings, masts and flagpoles. The river, though busy, has a flat stillness, and on the river on the right the American paddle steamer ‘Willamette’, flying the American flag, is very prominently positioned. The painting concentrates upon the significance of the river and on the variety of different craft in the centre, from small local junks to larger trading vessels. Although there is considerable activity shown on the individual boats, a serene stillness pervades the scene, reflected in the blue sky occupying half the canvas, in which the clouds appear to be suspended.