Zhang Zhou Life, China

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Sunday, October 10, 2010 | 5 photos

In the middle of 2010 I volunteered to work in Shanghai for a month, to work at a centre for children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. My pictures tell the story of Zhang Zhou and its people, a small province about 3 hours out of Shanghai.

One weekend I boarded on a bus full of local Chinese and arrived at my destination, not sure what to expect. It was a blistering hot day and no one the bus spoke a word of English. When I arrived Zhang Zhou, I was blown away by its beauty and wanted to explore as much of the town as I could in one day. Zhang Zhou is based around a system of intricate canals that extend to every end of the town which are used for food, transport and tourism. The people of Zhang Zhou are friendly and eager to show you their city and experience their way of life.

The pictures I’ve taken show a way of life, which is based around the canal system in the village. They showcase traditional Chinese architecture and the people who live and work in the town. I tried to capture the simplicity of the village, but also, the beauty and peace that comes with that simplicity. After coming from Shanghai the contrast was quite profound between urban and rural China, and it’s hard to believe that there can be such a dramatic difference within such a close proximity. Whilst many tourists visit the town each year, it is in many ways untouched, which is a rare thing in a place like China.

I am currently studying physiotherapy and enjoy travelling, doing so whenever I am able to. To me, photography is a hobby and an art form that I have recently become interested in. I like that you can capture something beautiful or unique for the whole world to see, and that that moment in time can look so different depending on how the photo is taken. To be able to travel and learn the art of photography would be the ultimate experience for me.