Rural China
I visited Mainland China for two weeks in April of this year. Although I visited many of the more famous tourist attractions such as the Great Wall and The Forbidden City, I also had the opportunity to visit with a rural Chinese family who live in the Yangshuo area of Southern China. The farmers of this area of China still practice ancient methods of farming. The weather was quite dull and dreary during my time in the Yangshuo area and there was intermittant drizzle. I shot these images mainly with a Canon 30D camera and a 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens.
1. They still use water buffaloes to cultivate the land...
2. We visited a rural home which was over three hundred years old...
3. As with all older Chinese buildings (and some modern ones) there is a raised doorstep. This is to prevent ghosts (which do not have knees and cannot step over things) from entering the home. The fierce picture on the door also serves to frighten off spirits...
4. Upon entering the house, we were faced with a memorial to Chairman Mao who is still revered in China as a "god-like" figure. You must turn left or right when confronted with the memorial. This is the last line of protection against ghosts because ghosts can only travel in a straight line and cannot turn corners...
5. The house is built around a central yourtyard...
6. A hand pump supplies water from the well. The farmer is wearing a traditional fiber rain cape and straw hat which are still worn in this area which gets 95 inches of rain each year...
7. The house seemed like a museum but, it was a living/working residence...
8. The vanity is in the courtyard...
9. The kitchen area is spartan to say the least...
10. And cooking is done over a wood fireplace...
11. A stone tofu mill in the courtyard grinds soybeans into a liquid that forms the basis of tofu...
12. The mill is operarted by hand. The farmer is wearing an old style "Mao Suit"...
13. The bedroom is quite rustic with mosquito nets over the bed...
14. The house contains an altar dedicated to the family ancestors...
15. The toilet is a non-flushing pit and is located next to the pig pen since both of these areas have bad odors...
16. The electric service is basic to say the least...
17. Due to the high humidity and large amount of rainfall, it sometimes takes two weeks for clothing to dry...
18. It is difficult for me to comprehend living in this manner but, the family seemed quite happy. The area is lush and lovely...
I found the people of China to be wonderfully hospitable and open. They were honest and friendly and seemed to have no worries regarding interacting with foreigners. I would love to return to China for a longer period...
1. They still use water buffaloes to cultivate the land...
2. We visited a rural home which was over three hundred years old...
3. As with all older Chinese buildings (and some modern ones) there is a raised doorstep. This is to prevent ghosts (which do not have knees and cannot step over things) from entering the home. The fierce picture on the door also serves to frighten off spirits...
4. Upon entering the house, we were faced with a memorial to Chairman Mao who is still revered in China as a "god-like" figure. You must turn left or right when confronted with the memorial. This is the last line of protection against ghosts because ghosts can only travel in a straight line and cannot turn corners...
5. The house is built around a central yourtyard...
6. A hand pump supplies water from the well. The farmer is wearing a traditional fiber rain cape and straw hat which are still worn in this area which gets 95 inches of rain each year...
7. The house seemed like a museum but, it was a living/working residence...
8. The vanity is in the courtyard...
9. The kitchen area is spartan to say the least...
10. And cooking is done over a wood fireplace...
11. A stone tofu mill in the courtyard grinds soybeans into a liquid that forms the basis of tofu...
12. The mill is operarted by hand. The farmer is wearing an old style "Mao Suit"...
13. The bedroom is quite rustic with mosquito nets over the bed...
14. The house contains an altar dedicated to the family ancestors...
15. The toilet is a non-flushing pit and is located next to the pig pen since both of these areas have bad odors...
16. The electric service is basic to say the least...
17. Due to the high humidity and large amount of rainfall, it sometimes takes two weeks for clothing to dry...
18. It is difficult for me to comprehend living in this manner but, the family seemed quite happy. The area is lush and lovely...
I found the people of China to be wonderfully hospitable and open. They were honest and friendly and seemed to have no worries regarding interacting with foreigners. I would love to return to China for a longer period...
0