ZhuJiaJao Watertown

ZhuJiaJao Watertown
Originally uploaded by weberpoint
It's our last day in China and most people (including Art) have already left for the states. The three of us who are left decided to spend our last day in the "best preserved" ancient part of Shanghai City. ZhuJiaJao is about 40km from the city center. It was built on a series of canals over the past thousand years, though most of the development occurred during the Ming Dynasty. The only modern improvements made since the site was "preserved" were the addition of toilets, information signs, souvenir shops, too many restaurants to count, and a large parking lot for the tour busses. You get
my point. Fortunately for us, today was wet and cold so the number of other visitors was at a very low level, and we had a great time walking the streets for about five hours. This town also has the friendliest dogs we have encountered in China. They are also uniformly small. The ones in the picture are full grown. I leave tomorrow at 6am, and will be home by noon (plus 15 hours in time zone changes).

ZhuJiaJao Watertown

ZhuJiaJao Watertown

ZhuJiaJao Watertown

ZhuJiaJao Watertown

ZhuJiaJao Watertown

Yang Shuo Mountains

Yang Shuo Mountains
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

Landscape photography isn't really my thing, and I have a hard time
composing effective images when I am confronted with scenery such as this.
To be in the middle of it is just an overwhelming experience. It's far
easier to just take it in than to interpret it in a photo. That being said,
I think the best time to visit this area is about 15 years ago. The once
sleepy little town of Guilin is now a major city. The backpacker crowd
would usually head out to Yang Shuo to get away from the crowds. Now Yang
Shuo is a major tourist area - it has two McDonald's and a pedestrian
shopping street that is packed with crowds at night. Further down river is
the relatively unspoiled hamlet of Xing Ping, but it too is quickly
succumbing to the crowds.

Yang Shuo Mountains

Yang Shuo Mountains
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

Landscape photography isn't really my thing, and I have a hard time
composing effective images when I am confronted with scenery such as this.
To be in the middle of it is just an overwhelming experience. It's far
easier to just take it in than to interpret it in a photo. That being said,
I think the best time to visit this area is about 15 years ago. The once
sleepy little town of Guilin is now a major city. The backpacker crowd
would usually head out to Yang Shuo to get away from the crowds. Now Yang
Shuo is a major tourist area - it has two McDonald's and a pedestrian
shopping street that is packed with crowds at night. Further down river is
the relatively unspoiled hamlet of Xing Ping, but it too is quickly
succumbing to the crowds.

Yang Shuo Mountains

Yang Shuo Mountains
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

Landscape photography isn't really my thing, and I have a hard time
composing effective images when I am confronted with scenery such as this.
To be in the middle of it is just an overwhelming experience. It's far
easier to just take it in than to interpret it in a photo. That being said,
I think the best time to visit this area is about 15 years ago. The once
sleepy little town of Guilin is now a major city. The backpacker crowd
would usually head out to Yang Shuo to get away from the crowds. Now Yang
Shuo is a major tourist area - it has two McDonald's and a pedestrian
shopping street that is packed with crowds at night. Further down river is
the relatively unspoiled hamlet of Xing Ping, but it too is quickly
succumbing to the crowds.

Yang Shuo Mountains

Yang Shuo Mountains
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

Landscape photography isn't really my thing, and I have a hard time
composing effective images when I am confronted with scenery such as this.
To be in the middle of it is just an overwhelming experience. It's far
easier to just take it in than to interpret it in a photo. That being said,
I think the best time to visit this area is about 15 years ago. The once
sleepy little town of Guilin is now a major city. The backpacker crowd
would usually head out to Yang Shuo to get away from the crowds. Now Yang
Shuo is a major tourist area - it has two McDonald's and a pedestrian
shopping street that is packed with crowds at night. Further down river is
the relatively unspoiled hamlet of Xing Ping, but it too is quickly
succumbing to the crowds.

We All Want to be Art Wolfe

We All Want to be Art Wolfe
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

Art took us down to the Li River this evening to shoot the cormorant
fishermen. This is not the same place that he shot his iconic photograph
several years ago as that location (formerly an isolated sand bar) is now a
built-up marina used to ferry tourists on river rides. This place is
changing fast. We found a location a few miles away and paid a couple of
fishermen to pose for us. During the 30 minutes or so of good low light, we
managed to get several shots that we are happy with. I did not try to
recreate Art's shot as that would require getting flat on the sand with the
camera at ground level. Water buffalo use that beach to drink. and other
things.

We All Want to be Art Wolfe

We All Want to be Art Wolfe
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

Art took us down to the Li River this evening to shoot the cormorant
fishermen. This is not the same place that he shot his iconic photograph
several years ago as that location (formerly an isolated sand bar) is now a
built-up marina used to ferry tourists on river rides. This place is
changing fast. We found a location a few miles away and paid a couple of
fishermen to pose for us. During the 30 minutes or so of good low light, we
managed to get several shots that we are happy with. I did not try to
recreate Art's shot as that would require getting flat on the sand with the
camera at ground level. Water buffalo use that beach to drink. and other
things.

We All Want to be Art Wolfe

We All Want to be Art Wolfe
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

Art took us down to the Li River this evening to shoot the cormorant
fishermen. This is not the same place that he shot his iconic photograph
several years ago as that location (formerly an isolated sand bar) is now a
built-up marina used to ferry tourists on river rides. This place is
changing fast. We found a location a few miles away and paid a couple of
fishermen to pose for us. During the 30 minutes or so of good low light, we
managed to get several shots that we are happy with. I did not try to
recreate Art's shot as that would require getting flat on the sand with the
camera at ground level. Water buffalo use that beach to drink. and other
things.

We All Want to be Art Wolfe

We All Want to be Art Wolfe
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

Art took us down to the Li River this evening to shoot the cormorant
fishermen. This is not the same place that he shot his iconic photograph
several years ago as that location (formerly an isolated sand bar) is now a
built-up marina used to ferry tourists on river rides. This place is
changing fast. We found a location a few miles away and paid a couple of
fishermen to pose for us. During the 30 minutes or so of good low light, we
managed to get several shots that we are happy with. I did not try to
recreate Art's shot as that would require getting flat on the sand with the
camera at ground level. Water buffalo use that beach to drink. and other
things.

More Yuan Yang Markets

More Yuan Yang Markets
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

It's raining here in Guilin - or more accurately Yang Shuo about 20 miles
down the Li River from Guilin - so today was a bit light on shooting.
Meanwhile, here are some photos taken in the markets of Yuan Yang. The
woman in the green hat is Hani, and the woman at the meat table is Zyi. Now
you know the difference.

Tomorrow, we are going to walk the banks of the Floating Lotus River, and
then photograph the cormorant fishermen at dusk. I think we are all going
to try to recreate Art's famous photograph on that subject. This may be the
last opportunity for us, or anyone to try this as the traditional fisherman
have all but disappeared from the rivers here. The area is rapidly
modernizing and the old ways of fishing no longer make economic sense - even
with the tourist interest.

More Yuan Yang Markets

More Yuan Yang Markets
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

It's raining here in Guilin - or more accurately Yang Shuo about 20 miles
down the Li River from Guilin - so today was a bit light on shooting.
Meanwhile, here are some photos taken in the markets of Yuan Yang. The
woman in the green hat is Hani, and the woman at the meat table is Zyi. Now
you know the difference.

Tomorrow, we are going to walk the banks of the Floating Lotus River, and
then photograph the cormorant fishermen at dusk. I think we are all going
to try to recreate Art's famous photograph on that subject. This may be the
last opportunity for us, or anyone to try this as the traditional fisherman
have all but disappeared from the rivers here. The area is rapidly
modernizing and the old ways of fishing no longer make economic sense - even
with the tourist interest.

More Yuan Yang Markets

More Yuan Yang Markets
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

It's raining here in Guilin - or more accurately Yang Shuo about 20 miles
down the Li River from Guilin - so today was a bit light on shooting.
Meanwhile, here are some photos taken in the markets of Yuan Yang. The
woman in the green hat is Hani, and the woman at the meat table is Zyi. Now
you know the difference.

Tomorrow, we are going to walk the banks of the Floating Lotus River, and
then photograph the cormorant fishermen at dusk. I think we are all going
to try to recreate Art's famous photograph on that subject. This may be the
last opportunity for us, or anyone to try this as the traditional fisherman
have all but disappeared from the rivers here. The area is rapidly
modernizing and the old ways of fishing no longer make economic sense - even
with the tourist interest.

More Yuan Yang Markets

More Yuan Yang Markets
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

It's raining here in Guilin - or more accurately Yang Shuo about 20 miles
down the Li River from Guilin - so today was a bit light on shooting.
Meanwhile, here are some photos taken in the markets of Yuan Yang. The
woman in the green hat is Hani, and the woman at the meat table is Zyi. Now
you know the difference.

Tomorrow, we are going to walk the banks of the Floating Lotus River, and
then photograph the cormorant fishermen at dusk. I think we are all going
to try to recreate Art's famous photograph on that subject. This may be the
last opportunity for us, or anyone to try this as the traditional fisherman
have all but disappeared from the rivers here. The area is rapidly
modernizing and the old ways of fishing no longer make economic sense - even
with the tourist interest.

More Yuan Yang Markets

More Yuan Yang Markets
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

It's raining here in Guilin - or more accurately Yang Shuo about 20 miles
down the Li River from Guilin - so today was a bit light on shooting.
Meanwhile, here are some photos taken in the markets of Yuan Yang. The
woman in the green hat is Hani, and the woman at the meat table is Zyi. Now
you know the difference.

Tomorrow, we are going to walk the banks of the Floating Lotus River, and
then photograph the cormorant fishermen at dusk. I think we are all going
to try to recreate Art's famous photograph on that subject. This may be the
last opportunity for us, or anyone to try this as the traditional fisherman
have all but disappeared from the rivers here. The area is rapidly
modernizing and the old ways of fishing no longer make economic sense - even
with the tourist interest.

The Rice Terraces of Yuan Yang

The Rice Terraces of Yuan Yang
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

Our flight from Kunming to Guilin was delayed six hours. I am finally here,
but it is 3:00 in the morning and we are leaving at nine. Too tired to
post. The short story is that these rice terraces have been continuously
cultivated for 1,300 years by the Hani and Zyi tribes people. More
tomorrow. Look at the pictures.

The Rice Terraces of Yuan Yang

The Rice Terraces of Yuan Yang
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

Our flight from Kunming to Guilin was delayed six hours. I am finally here,
but it is 3:00 in the morning and we are leaving at nine. Too tired to
post. The short story is that these rice terraces have been continuously
cultivated for 1,300 years by the Hani and Zyi tribes people. More
tomorrow. Look at the pictures.

The Rice Terraces of Yuan Yang

The Rice Terraces of Yuan Yang
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

Our flight from Kunming to Guilin was delayed six hours. I am finally here,
but it is 3:00 in the morning and we are leaving at nine. Too tired to
post. The short story is that these rice terraces have been continuously
cultivated for 1,300 years by the Hani and Zyi tribes people. More
tomorrow. Look at the pictures.

The Rice Terraces of Yuan Yang

The Rice Terraces of Yuan Yang
Originally uploaded by weberpoint

Our flight from Kunming to Guilin was delayed six hours. I am finally here,
but it is 3:00 in the morning and we are leaving at nine. Too tired to
post. The short story is that these rice terraces have been continuously
cultivated for 1,300 years by the Hani and Zyi tribes people. More
tomorrow. Look at the pictures.