These engravings by the Western artists represent figures of the Armenian merchants in their traditional outfits. They were key figures and intermediaries in the East-West global trade. They were recognized by their peculiar turbans and garbs.  According to historians, Armenian merchants were favored by the Chinese people involved in the trade with the West. 

Hundreds of Armenians journeyed eastward to China in the late 19th century in search of opportunity, anchoring themselves in major cities, as well as in Harbin, a town that rose to prominence with the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway.   Initially, Armenian railroad workers and merchants formed the core of the community in Harbin. Their numbers were small—no more than a few dozen. A larger number of Armenians lived in Manzhouli (Manchuli), which had risen to prominence in the early 20th century also thanks to railway projects. A group photograph of the Armenian community in Manzhouli (circa 1919) depicting around 150