China - A Country In Transition am currently living in China because I really want to learn mandarin and the culture is so different to anything I have experienced before. In terms of photography, China has been a real treat. I think that has been partly down to spotting interesting th

My Scholarship entry - Exploring Tianjin

China | Friday, November 14, 2014 | 5 photos

I am currently living in China because I really want to learn mandarin and the culture is so different to anything I have experienced before. In terms of photography, China has been a real treat. I think that has been partly down to spotting interesting things that stand out to a foreigner and also because I have had more time on my hands to pursue photography freely.

China is fascinating in many respects. Since reappearing from isolation in the early eighties the rest of the world has been paying more and more attention to how she develops, and indeed we should. Within the fragile biosphere we share， the effects of China’s ‘development’ are no longer limited to her boarders. The scientific consensus over climate change indicate that significantly increased international efforts and collaboration will be necessary If we are to curb carbon emissions to sustainable levels. With a population of over 1.3 billion China’s contribution to this global objective is integral. How China decides to develop in the next twenty years could very well determine our own and future generations quality of life. The country has achieved a near economic miracle in the past few decades but this achievement hasn’t been without its social and environmental costs. China now appears to be a land of contrasts and contradictions with what seems to be an identity crisis.

The city of Tianjin embodies a lot of the struggles going on in china today. This microcosm of Chinese culture could also provide some clues as to how this incredible country will develop and shape our future.