National Museums Liverpool Blog - Year of the Tiger

A Manchu bride, Beijing 1871-2. © The Wellcome Library, London

The pioneering photojournalist John Thomson travelled for years through China with a lot of heavy, cumbersome equipment to take the incredible photos that are now featured in the China through the lens of John Thomson 1868-1872 exhibition at Merseyside Maritime Museum.

We don't expect you to go to such lengths for our latest competition. Instead we'd like you to take your nice light modern cameras or camera phones on a journey to explore Liverpool's Chinatown and Chinese culture.

Enter your photos into our Liverpool's Chinatown through the lens group on Flickr to take part in the competition. On 24 May 2010 we'll choose our favorite photo and the person who took it will win a banquet meal for two with wine at Liverpool’s longest-established Chinese restaurant, Yuet Ben. Two runners-up will each receive a copy of the China through the lens of John Thomson 1868-1872 exhibition catalogue.

During the course of the competition we will feature some of our favourite photos from the group here on the blog and the winning photo will be featured on the blog and exhibition website.

For example you can submit photos of Liverpool's Chinese arch, the Chinese New Year celebrations, buildings, people, or even a local restaurant which has a special place in your life!

If you need inspiration you might like to check out some of our free Chinese New Year events which are taking place at Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Lady Lever Art Gallery and World Museum over the next couple of weeks.

Lion dancer at the Maritime Museum

The first major event was the opening of the blockbuster exhibition China through the lens of John Thomson 1868-1872 at Merseyside Maritime Museum, which is the first time that this incredible pioneering collection of photographs has been shown in England after touring China last year. It's a stunning exhibition but don't take my word for it - here's a review from The Times last week - just one of many great write ups that the exhibition has had so far.

To celebrate the opening of the exhibition the Liverpool Hung Gar Kung Fu friendship Association performed lion dances in Merseyside Maritime Museum last weekend. You can see more photos of their performance, which more than 800 visitors came to see, in our Chinese New Year 2010 set on Flickr.

There are lots more free events planned in Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Lady Lever Art Gallery and World Museum, including creative workshops, another oportunity to see the lion dances and a new talk about the 'Blue Flu' - or Blue Funnel Line. Full details are on our Chinese New Year events page.