Founded in August 1853 and published by Ying Wa College in binding-book style.
It introduced Western history, geography and sciences to Chinese readers, as well as reporting the latest news in China and the West.
The paper was written mainly in Chinese, although some stories were in English.
Walter Henry Medhurst, a London-born missionary to China, was the first editor-in-chief of the paper.
The publication terminated in May 1856 as Medhurst's successor James Legge, the third to hold the editorship and then principal of Ying Wa College, was occupied with school management.