Capturing images of Beijing over the last 30 years
My early expeditions out to the suburbs were usually by public bus to locations now served by metro or tramways. For any Beijing visitor, indeed for residents, the various Great Wall sections, whether Badaling, Mutianyu or more can be spellbinding. It is an iconic symbol of China that many of us recall from early schoolbooks. The Western Hills rising above the almost villagelike area of Xiangshan was another place that simply captivated me! I reached Lugoqiao with its famed Marco Polo Bridge and Wanping Fort on a cold January afternoon in 1996. These are just some of the many memories of archiving the many facets of Beijing.
This passion has continued up to the present. Beijing has changed incredibly since I first passed through the gates of the Forbidden City in 1987, but the changes also provide many photographic opportunities for great contrasts have emerged. Interfaces appear where historic landmarks stand alongside the gleaming 21st century towers going up, particularly after hosting the 2008 Olympics. International architects helped create a contemporary landscape of world-leading airports, vast modern railway stations, skyscrapers literally reaching into the heavens, and high-end shopping malls overtaking open-air markets. The list goes on and on as the city adopts an appearance I never foresaw three decades ago. However, I do recall after that aforementioned visit to Lugoqiao, I saw from the bus as we traveled along Guang’an Road a vast building under construction to the north. It was Beijing West Railway Station, opening in 1996 as Asia’s largest rail terminal and a taste of things to come over many following years!
The images with this feature are just a few from a vast archive documenting not only Beijing but indeed much of China. And as the country continues changing so the collection keeps on growing.
