One of my sons lives and works in China. In 2009 we travelled together through Yunnan. We started in the provincial capital Kunming and travelled north west criss-crossing the upper reaches of the Yangtze river. We spent a few days in the old town at Lijiang. From there our plan was to walk the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge of the Yangtze, but at the last minute decided instead to ascend 18000 ft Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
A cable car takes you a long way up the mountain. From there it is a series of walkways, steps and platforms to an upper viewing station about 3000 ft below the summit. This is one of the major tourist attraction for the new Chinese middle class and we were the only westerns there. Many people were carrying large spray cans that turned out to be oxygen cylinders. A number of men were alternately breathing oxygen and smoking cigarettes. We wondered if this can set you on fire?
At the top platform everyone takes pictures, mostly of each other. Religious artwork of the local ethnic minority was hung on the platform sides but largely ignored. My son proved to be a hit with lots of people wanting to be photographed with him. The woman in the picture being especially keen to do this. Having exhausted this option she then climbed onto the platform barrier and waved around the national flag so we could all photograph her some more. Playful patriotism perhaps.
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Photograph taken on a Nikon D700
