Photography Horse Racing Track

A black-and-white photograph showing visitors to the horse racing track at the French embassy in Beijing’s Legation Quarter (Dongjiaominxiang 東交民巷). Between 1861 and 1959, the latter was established in the area of the Inner City (Neicheng 内城), east of present-day Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang 天安門廣場), and south of the Forbidden City (Gugong 故宫 or Zijincheng 紫禁城). In addition to the hippodrome, foreign powers built various infrastructures in the legations – from churches, hospitals, barracks, post offices and schools to banks and hotels.

The hippodrome was located on the eastern edge of the legation along Chongwenmen Dajie Street (崇文門大街), also known as Hademen Street among Western expatriates. The street, which ran along the eastern wall of the Inner City, was named after the gate of the same name, now called Chongwen Gate (Chongwenmen 崇文門) or Hade Gate (Hademen 哈德門). The photograph shows a procession of racehorses with riders being led around the racecourse. Observers can be seen in the background behind the racecourse, including marines.

The photograph is the 62nd of 449 photographs of Beijing and its surroundings in the album of Ivan Skušek Jr., purchased during his stay in Beijing (1914–1920). In the handwritten inventory of the album, the photograph is referred to as Renn-Platz. (DZ, MV)