Suzhou

In Tongli

Row, row, row your boat. Gently down the stream. Life is but a dream.

But perhaps it is not so merry for the oarsmen in Suzhou, who struggle to make ends meet by entertaining wealthy tourists in hundred-degree weather.

Symmetry

The unique angle at which the photo was taken allows the subject's braid to perfectly blend into the lines formed by the wooden planks of the boardwalk. The little girl sits perfectly still, observing the melange of people, seagulls, and concession stands around her. The lines converge around her body, evocative of a radiant halo.

The Chase

The pace of life is much slower in Suzhou. But the speed at which the little boy rides his bike to chase the dog interrupts the languid flow of time in this town.

Folklore

Residents in the town no longer listen to traditional Chinese opera, and blast pop music and even rock from their portable speakers. This elderly man hums a trendy tune as he pushes his pedicab down the ancient pebblestone street.

Qian Shi Jin Sheng

I snapped this photograph of an old lady selling vegetables. She was all alone in a noisy tourist site, nonchalantly watching the passing crowds. I felt an instant connection to her at the moment and decided to take a picture of her. Later when I returned to the United States, whenever I saw this photo, I was reminded of my Chinese heritage.

Zhi Fou

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