On March 1, 1854, he arrived at Shanghai, China at 21 years old. He was the only missionary that was a resident of Shanghai, thus making him more enthusiastic to preach. In early 1855, he started to do preaching tours, accompanied by another missionary or alone. These tours lasted at least a week long.
Later, he decided to preach to the Taipings, a rebel group with its capital located in Nanking. He then made his way up the Yangtze River and visited 58 villages along the way, which only 7 of those had ever seen a Protestant missionary. However, the Lord kept him from reaching Nanking. Taylor then went back to Shanghai. In five years, most of the rebels were gone from Nanking.
On August 24, 1855, he toured to Ningpo and back to Shanghai. In late 1855, Taylor met William Burns, a Scottish evangelist and worked with him as a gospel team. During this time, the CES informed him that there were no more funds to support him in China. He also heard that Burns was arrested by Chinese authorities.
In October 1856, Hudson decided to settle at Ningpo. On his journey, he was robbed of his traveling bed, spare clothes, two watches, surgical instruments, concertina (type of accordion), sister Amelia’s photo, and a Bible given to him by his mother. Since he had no funding, he resigned from the CES in June 1857.
Dr. Parker, a missionary, had established a hospital and dispensary, part of a missionary compound at Ningpo. A school was run by Miss Mary Aldersey in the compound. (Miss Aldersey was reported to be the first woman missionary in China.) She had two helpers: Maria Dyer and Burella. Maria married Hudson on January 16, 1857.
In 1860, Taylor went back to England. He enrolled in a medical course, wrote a book, translated the New Testament, and more. Then, the China Inland Mission began on Sunday, June 35, 1865. The Taylors had raised $13,000 for China and took 24 volunteers to accompany him in China.
On May 26, 1866, they left for China again. On July 20, 1868, they had their own missionary compound. On August 22, 1868, the compound was attacked and their house was looted and burned. Later, Taylor confessed to the Lord exhausted and depressed that if it weren’t for his wife’s love, he would commit suicide.
On March 22, 1870, the 4 oldest Taylor children left to go to England. Maria died on July 23, 1870, and two days before she died she heard that the Taylor children had arrived at England safely. Because of medical issues, in July 1871, Taylor returned to England.
In England, he met a Miss Faulding and married her later that year. Also, Dwight Moody heard him preach. Then, he took his new wife with him to China on October 9, 1872.
He went back to England in 1874 because the foster-mother for his children had died. On September 13, 1876, Inland China was opened to the gospel. Hudson then went back to China and traveled over 30,000 miles in two years. In 1878, his wife rejoined him in being a missionary.
Taylor went back to England in February 1883. Now in China they had 225 missionaries, 59 churches, and 1,655 members. In 1887, Taylor recruited 102 more and raised $105,000.
He then left for China his 11th and last time in February 1905 alone as his wife had already passed away the year before. There he died in Changsha, Hunan, China on June 3 1905. Hudson Taylor brought many people to Christ.