Reflection, Sweetness, and Rest in Foshan

Charming Bridge (韵桥) at Liang Garden (梁园)

Durian and black glutinous rice with frozen coconut milk (榴莲忘返)

Zhongshan Park

And to those who will be celebrating a new year, Shanah Tovah.

The Aftermath of Typhoon Hato in Zhuhai: The Lianhua Road Pedestrian Street

Looking east down Qiaoguang Road from the intersection with the Lianhua Road Pedestrian Street

The Lianhua Road Pedestrian Street leads from the land border between mainland China and Macau to areas farther north in Zhuhai. Along and near the well-trafficked pedestrian street are many restaurants, hair salons, clothing stores, and other businesses. Below are some photos taken just hours after powerful Typhoon Hato hit Zhuhai, China — obviously not a typical moment for the street. The scenes capture some of the destruction there and how life continued, such as people walking through and around large fallen trees, a man petting a dog at a typically closed-off construction site, and one of the very few stores on the street already welcoming customers once more.

The Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street in Guangzhou During the Qingming Festival

Many people in China remembered deceased family members during the recent Qingming Festival. Highlighting another side of how some spent the day, which for many was part of a three day holiday, a series of photos taken at the Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street in Guangzhou appears below. One of the popular destinations for tourists visiting Guangzhou, the area was much more crowded than usual for a weekday though there were few signs of the holiday itself. The photos include both people who didn't have to work during that afternoon and people who did.

One of the wider portions of the street

Carrying a coconut to drink

Standing in line for Mango Big Mac drinks and stuffed chicken wings

Standing in line for fish balls

Preparing the fish balls

Keeping things clean

Selling fruit

Driving the bus on a portion of the pedestrian street which isn't as pedestrian-friendly as others

Providing security (and stopping people from riding bikes)

Riding high

Riding low

Riding somewhere in between

A few wore face masks

Walking

Photographing

Not-So-Hidden Dragon

At Zhongshan Park in Shenyang, Liaoning Province

China's National Day: October 1, 2016, in Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang

October 1 was the celebration for the founding of the People's Republic of China and the beginning of a Golden Week holiday during which nearly 600 million people are expected to travel in China. I have spent the holiday in Mudanjiang — a city in China's most northeastern province. During the afternoon of October 1, I walked around a central commercial area including a pedestrian street and Culture Square, where I had already seen Chinese flags displayed for the holiday.

Some people carried a Chinese flag.

Some people sold Chinese flags.

Some streets were filled with vehicles.

Some streets were filled with pedestrians.

Some people carried a child.

Some people carried a dog.

Some people carried a bear's head.

Some people sang and played.

Some people sang and danced.

Some people checked their phone.

Some people took a drive.

And, of course, some stores had a sale.

In many ways what I saw was indistinguishable from other days I have spent Mudanjiang. For this reason, the day unexpectedly and somewhat ironically reminded me of another day in another Chinese city. The crowds did feel larger, though nothing like what is seen in more popular destinations. I don't expect that much will be different here in another week or two, except that there won't be so many flags.