From the Banister Family Collection at the University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China website: https://www.hpcbristol.net/visual/ba06-100
Text: The first building on the left is Jardine House (Jardine, Matheson & Co) - a building which was demolished in 1907. Painted advertisements: SMOKE SHEE[...] CIGARETTES / PUREST AND BEST; TRY HEINZ APPLE BUTTER; HEINZ 57 GOOD THINGS; THE MUTUAL STORES.
Behind Jardine House (demolished in 1907) is the P&O Building (3rd gen).
The building under construction is the new Post Office. Construction works show the covering of the entire area of the basement with asphalte. This indicates the year 1905 (see here)
Probably taken from the Hotel Mansions / Union Building.
Updated 2023-11-13
Date picture taken
1905
Gallery
Shows place(s)
Comments
cigarette sign
After some brute-force blind guesses, the cigarette brand is most likely Sweet Caporal, quite a popular one at that time.