One of the Western countries trading with China in the 18th century was Sweden, the European nation that had lost her Great Power status after protracted war with Russia. The Swedish East India Company sent 129 trade expeditions to Guangzhou. Some passengers aboard the ships reported their travel impressions and help creating the early Swedish image of China. A study of three notable travelogues demonstrates how authors were influenced not only by their actual observations but perhaps even more by European intellectual trends