"Shamshun - Japanese on the frontier": Chinese porters pass to and fro along and beside railway tracks, partially blocked by sandbagging and barbed wire on British side of frontier. British officer walks forward to meet his Japanese Army counterpart in the strip separating Hong Kong's New Territories from Japanese-occupied China. Indian Army Sikhs guard the frontier. Camera pans from British observation post over river traffic to Sham Chun Hills.

"Canton": (Guangzhou) Harbour scenes with Chinese rowing boats, some flying Japanese flag. Unidentified naval vessels moored in harbour, and one large capsized vessel (presumably sunk by Japanese). Camera surveys harbour front buildings, vessels and fortification at entrance to harbour.

"Shanghai": cargo vessel at sea with large aeroplane on deck (Japanese?). Traffic along Shanghai Bund. Scottish soldier in kilt (Seaforth Highlander?). Scenes of Chinese domestic life on board sampans include men playing cards, street restaurant and barber at work. Street scenes and tall buildings on Bund. Metal guard tower (?) in street. Buildings destroyed by Japanese Air Force bombing. River traffic with large naval vessels moored.

Amateur film with titles shot by Colonel G E Grimsdale when serving as the senior Army member of the Far Eastern Combined Intelligence Bureau (FECB) records scenes during his tour of China in April-May 1940.