Sampan (Hung-t’ou), circa 1934
Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

Shanghai harbor is crowded with small sampans. The sampan serves two important purposes: it is a place where a family lives, sleeps, and eats; and it is a source of income as a water taxi.

The covered area provides shelter from rain and the hot tropical sun. This is where the cooking is done and where passengers sit. When transporting people, the driver stands at the back and propels the sampan with a long oar (yuloh).