Xiapu and around August 24 - September 5, 2019
Xiapu is a charming coastal county in Ningde, Fujian province of China known for its mountains and coastal cities of diverse culture. I will be leaving from Bangkok to Fuzhou then speed rail to Xiapu in a couple of day for shooting between August 25 through September 4 with some good photography friends, the great Steve McCurry (for the pre-release Leica SL2), Eolo Perfido, Marco Casino and my wife Kanjana Chaiwatanachai, photographs from the trip to follow.
August 24, Huyuao Village, Xiapu, Ningde, Fujian
This fishing village, like many other villages along the coast of Fujian province, China, were visited by early Christian missionaries and many still faithfully believed in God after the cultural revolution.
The coastal region of southeastern China was the area visited first by Christian missionaries and believe in God is still a widespread practice by the local village people. By comparison, the rural village receives less suppression on religion practice by the communist Chinese government than the metropolitan areas and bigger cities.
August 25 Sansa, Xiapu, Ningde, Fujian
August 26 Dajing Fortress, Xiapu, Ningde, Fujian
A seaweed factory inside the Dajing Fishing Village in the ancient Dajing Fortress built back in the Ming Dynasty against Japanese aggressors and now mostly in ruins.
Yes, we all have a different appetite for good, not so much interests to know how the food processed.
August 26, Fahua Village, Xiapu, Ningde, Fujian
August 26 Zhujiang village, Xiapu, Ningde, Fujian
August 27 Sansha Township, Xiapu, Ningde, Fujian
August 27 Liuyun Temple, Xiapu, Ningde, Fujian
August 28 Banyueli 畲 "She" Village, Xiapu, Ningde, Fujian
Not all, but many Chinese photographers practice the art similar to calligraphy - by copy the maters (or so-called masters) they admired - often with the meticulous approach - the exact spot, angle, time of the day, sometimes that exact day of a year, some may go even further to use the exact lens and setting.
One good example here: with this elderly She 畲 tribe people, who dressed in the traditional costume, works more or less like a photo model, do the pose in slow motion, day after day, year after year when her picture took by a Chinese photographer that grasped the public's attention and photographers flocked to the small village to try to make the "exact" image. Millions after millions of copy each year!
She is of not the purpose of my travel to the village, of course, but seeing so many traveling photographers trying to take the same picture and sometimes see photographers tried to squeeze into the exact spot in order to get a perfect "copy", I can't help but snapped a few shots just to entertain the moment! And walked away...
August 28 Shajiang Village, Xiapu, Ningde, Fujian
August 28 Duo-Duo Dancing School, Xiapu, Ningde, Fujian
August 29 Sutee Village, Fu'An, Fujian
Noodle is one of the original Chinese inventions with archaeological evidence found in Laija site (in nowadays Qinghai Province, China) over 4,000 years ago! It became a staple food for the people and in written history back in the Eastern Han period (25-220 CE).
Sutee village, Fu'An, Ningde - a place still produces the noodles by hand following the traditional way by stretching the noodles over 7 meters long and dry under sunlight. It is among the very best noodles.
The noodle signified the perseverance and long life of Chinese people.
August 30 Chongwu, Hui-An, Quanzhou, Fujian
Chongwu - one of the largest stone carving centers in the world!
August 31 Hui'An, Quanzhou, Fujian
The Hui’An Maiden - Da Zha fishing village, Hui’An.
Historically the symbol of perseverance for woman, their husbands left the village for fishing for days, if ever return; therefore the woman stay behind doing works belongs to both sexes; as the farmers, labors for hauling heavy stones, father and mother.
September 1 Tienluokeng, Nanjing County, Zhangzhou, Fujian
September 2, 2019 Yunshuiyao Earthen Building, Nanjing County Zhangzhou, Fujian 南靖雲水遙土樓群
September 2, 2019 Tienluokeng Yunshuiyao Earthen Building Cluster, Nanjing County Zhangzhou, Fujian
September 2, 2019 Tienluokeng Hekeng Village Earth Building Cluster, Nanjing County Zhangzhou, Fujian
September 3, 2019 Fuzhou, Fujian
“If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.”
~ Noam Chomsky
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; and They shall walk, and not faint.”- [Isaiah 40:31] Bible
Shall not forget what the five stars and the national anthem stand for!
Interesting time ahead, looking forward the true peace in coming years!
