The obverse of this medal utilises the die from the Naval General Service Medal. Since many Victorian-era medals featured a similar left-facing portrait of Queen Victoria, it is likely that the craftsman opted for convenience by using a comparable mould. As a result, this medal bears the year “1848” inscribed at the bottom instead of the blank space found on the original design. The museum also holds another medal in its collection, a “Naval General Service Medal” crafted using the obverse mould of the “China War Medal,” which is likely the work of the same artisan.

The reverse of the medal features a palm tree, beneath which lies a shield bearing the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom, along with cannon and various weapons. The upper edge is inscribed with the Latin phrase “ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM” (To seek peace by force). At the bottom, the inscription reads “CHINA” along with the year of the campaign, “1842.”

It is noteworthy that the original design for the reverse, created by engraver William Wyon, depicted a lion, symbolising England, trampling a dragon, symbolising China. However, the British government deemed this imagery too offensive to China and ultimately opted for a version featuring a pile of weapons as the central motif.

This miniature version does not feature the original bar suspension but instead uses the petal-shaped suspension introduced with the Crimea War Medal in AD 1854. Above the suspension is a red ribbon with yellow stripes, designed for the recipient to wear on the chest.

The First Opium War occurred from AD 1840 to AD 1842 and concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Nanking. The war was triggered in AD 1838 when Emperor Daoguang appointed Imperial Commissioner Lin Zexu to Guangzhou to enforce a ban on opium. Upon his arrival, Lin Zexu promptly destroyed over 20,000 chests of British-imported opium at Humen. This action provoked British discontent, leading to military actions against the Qing Dynasty in AD 1840, ultimately resulting in a British victory in AD 1842.

The Treaty of Nanking, signed after the First Opium War, was the first of the unequal treaties in modern Chinese history, marking the beginning of semi-colonialism in China. As a result, China lost its consular jurisdiction and tariff autonomy, most-favoured-nation status to foreign powers, established foreign concessions, and opened five ports: Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Fuzhou, and Guangzhou.

In AD 1843, the British government issued the China War Medal to honour soldiers who had distinguished themselves during the First Opium War. The design of this medal continued to be used for the Second Opium War, with the addition of six different clasps for the latter. Following the Boxer Rebellion, a new China War Medal was instituted by Britain, maintaining the reverse design and ribbon from the previous two medals, though the obverse featuring Queen Victoria’s portrait and the inscriptions were altered.