China is changing at a rapid pace and the country appeals in many different ways. The taste of the varied foods that are all cooked to perfection. The sight of so many people, magnificent Skyscrapers with not so magnificent regimented living blocks. Hearing the noise of incessant traffic with horns blaring and people rushing around in cars, motorbikes and bicycles. Every city seems to be a perpetual traffic jam. The smell of fumes in the streets against the wonderful culinary smells in the restaurants. On balance I fell in love with China as I loved the energy of the country and its people. I had a unique photographing opportunity during my work visit for the University of Birmingham. The cities I visited were Chengdu, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Nanjing. I travelled by plane and high-speed train. The latter was fast and efficient but most of all cheap.
My first photographic tour is of Chengdu which is the place where pandas live and the whole society is orientated around their presence. Pandas are everywhere ranging from pictures to statues. The real ones live outside the city. My trip was short so I did not get a chance to see the real pandas. I had a wonderful few hours exploring the streets of Chengdu especially the Wide and Narrow Lanes (Kuan Xiangzi and Zhai Xiangzi)
The following are the individual pictures and each has a story attached to them.
