Somewhere in Nocturnal China

9 May 2019

Somewhere in Nocturnal China

Even though our main goal in our first visit to China was to do some trekking in the mountains and explore 2 National Parks we had heard so much about (Zhangjiajie and Tianmensan National Parks, as you can see in the previous post here), we also found some time to walk around the cities where we stayed once the night had fallen and the street lamps (ubiquitous in this country wherever you go, as if it were Christmas every night of the year) had been lit. The same way a candle only breaths its most endearing power in the darkness, places that seemed totally unremarkable to us in our busy commute from hotel to station in the morning or early evening, became unique, alluring and photogenic surrounded by neon lights and lanterns.

Undisturbed Love, GX80 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

Taiping Street I, GX80 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

Taiping Street II, GX80 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

Taiping Street III, GX80 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

The Seller I, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

The Seller II, GX80 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

Handiwork, GX80 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

We were always tired at the end of a day full of walking with a backpack, but it was a completely rewarding experience to wander around the city streets at night, since the colors, views and particularly the smells were completely different from those of the day, showing a new face that we would have missed if we had decided to simply sleep to recover energy for the following day's excursion. It's definitely worth giving night-China a chance, for most of its most peculiar tastes and flavors (of all sorts) can only be experienced then. And don't fear, night is not a synonym of obscurity in this country, for the lights will accompany you wherever you go lighting up the atmosphere (sometimes a tiny bit too much for my taste) with multiple and unexpected hues.