Venturing out from our hotel late at night in a town I can't remember, we encountered a very active nightime environment, full of lights, sidewalk cafes, street vendors, shops and filled with people. It seems that that's when the 'working class' party (much like here). Here we tried a pineapple beer and some freshly cooked "surprise on a stick". Not really sure what we were eating but figured it had been pretty well cooked on those hot coals. Very tasty too.
"Old" China was filled with small walled villages, or large neighborhoods, called hutongs. Unfortunately most of them are falling victim to progress, being demolished for high rises. Fortunately, tourism is allowing some to remain.They are filled with private courtyards, public areas and alley ways. While shopping in one quaint area I wandered into one of the alleys where I caught this delivery boy taking a lunch break and his bike waiting patiently for his return.
These men must have one of the most tedious jobs around, sweeping the streets and walks with straw brooms. Very Green, but so unrewarding. China has some of the cleanest cities I have ever seen, but it still makes me sad to see (what appears to be) such exclusion and segregation, even at these levels. Interesting image, sad content.
An old man and young boy stop on a canal bridge in Zhouzhuang China to watch a gondola pass beneath.
The beautiful canal ambience is accompanied by some traditional vocals by the women gondoliers.