Xiaoxiao Xu embarks on a journey of 25,000 kilometres to document the lives of the people along the foot of the Great Wall of China. Contrary to popular belief, the wall is not a single, continuous structure, but rather a collection of walls and fortifications built during various Chinese dynasties. Her images show that, despite its decline in some of these parts, a lively relationship remains between the wall and local populations who honour and protect it. In the process, Xu attempts to discover the impact of fast-growing China on this historic site. The villages along the Great Wall still live by ancient traditions, but these are gradually disappearing. She captures this visual transformation.
112 p, ills colour, 24 x 33 cm, pb, English
Published by The Eriskay Connection