Beard Trim(mer)
Kashgar, Xinjiang Province, China.
Much of everyday life in China is lived on the streets, and this barber, of the muslim Uyghur ethnic group, was plying his trade at Kashgar Sunday Market, as he probably had been for decades.
A pictoral introduction to this vast and diverse country, taken whilst travelling at various points over the last few years. Hopefully the pictures are not just original, but also informative, offering an insight into a nation whose most fascinating areas are as yet relatively undiscovered.
Kashgar, Xinjiang Province, China.
Much of everyday life in China is lived on the streets, and this barber, of the muslim Uyghur ethnic group, was plying his trade at Kashgar Sunday Market, as he probably had been for decades.
Kashgar, Xinjiang Province, China.
This knife maker, in Kashgar's Coppersmiths Bazaar, sharpens a knife whilst chatting away to a friend. Extreme multi-tasking.
Turpan, Xinjiang Province, China
The Flaming Mountains, just outside Turpan, were made famous by the Chinese novel 'Journey to the West'. Their name derives from the claim that in the heat of Turpan's sun, they look as though they're on fire.
Kashgar, Xinjiang Province, China.
It is common amongst both Uyghur men and women to replace bad, or even good, teeth with gold. This woman must have once had either a lot of bad teeth or a lot of money, or most likely both, since her entire mouth is now full of gold.
Kashgar, Xinjiang Province, China.
Walking around Kashgar's Sunday Market, I came across this shy Uyghur child, clinging to his mother.
Cudrania Pool Temple, Nr. Beijing, China
This temple (Tanzhe Si), an hour's bus ride from Beijing is the citiy's largest and oldest temple complex. It is set in a beautifully green valley, and offers a quiet place to think and relax after the noise and pollution of modern Beijing.
Nr. Tongren, Qinghai Province, China
The extent of China's headlong rush into modernity is visible even in the country's most remote provinces. Phone lines keep travellers company in Qinghai's grasslands.
Qinghai Lake, Qinghai Province, China
Tibetan prayer flags abound, not just in 'Tibet', but also in the provinces bordering Tibet - Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan. This particular one, is on top of a hill overlooking the western edge of Qinghai Lake.
Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China
Dunhuang is a desert oasis on the Silk Road, sandwiched between Qinghai Province and Inner Mongolia. The climate is harsh, but has resulted in a stunning backdrop of huge sand dunes, the biggest of which reaches 1715 metres.
Xiahe, Gansu Province, China
Around the Labrang Tibetan Buddhist monastery complex are numerous slate tiles, such as this one, upon which is written a prayer in Tibetan script: 'Om mani padme hum'.
