The Many Great Walls of China – Weekly Photo Challenge
“Tear down….tear down the walls. Love flows freely when they fall.”
Jan Nigro
(10 Photos)
The first thing I thought of when I saw Cheri’s Wall challenge this week was China’s Great Wall – a fantastic highlight of our most recent adventure. Skip to the end if that’s your only interest in this one, but if you’d like to see some other “small G great” walls of China, please read on π
“The more walls you put around you, the more walls are gonna block your view.”
Jan Nigro
There are all kinds of walls – some impenetrable and some, like those above, little more than fabric. As I watched the women in the photo talking animatedly as they went about their daily chores, I assumed the walls were separating their goods but not their spirits, as they all seemed of one mind with a singular purpose – drawing both local and tourist trade to their wares.
“If these walls could sing they’d sing us a hundred songs.”
Bouncing Souls
Also focused on selling his wares, the image above shows a man sitting in a literal hole in the wall, watching as the world walks by. Here in the states, a “hole in the wall” is a slang term meaning a rather small, dingy place. His place may indeed have been small and somewhat dingy, but that didn’t stop him from enjoying his tobacco along with the beautiful sunny morning.
“These walls have stood for ages, and now time still turns its pages.”
Michael Martin Murphey
Photographers love decay and this wall certainly is that, but it has the added bonus of a doting dad and his darling daughter π. I loved the soft colorful element she added to the scene. I also thought the bright shaft of sunlight in the otherwise shadowed wall added still another interesting dimension.
“I can’t hold out forever; even walls fall down.”
Tom Petty
Speaking of decay, I couldn’t resist including the photo above, which I’ve used in a previous post. It’s one of my favorite shots from our China adventure and brings to mind a very vivid memory of our journey. It’s a long story, but suffice it to say this scene reminds me that one cannot judge a book by its cover, and that the joy of discovery offsets any trials faced during the journey.
“If you live it off the wall, life ain’t so bad at all.”
Rod Templeton
In Beijing’s beautiful Summer Palace, former “vacation home” to its emperors, there are walls with windows shaped like teapots overlooking lovely lakeside vistas. Imagine the scene during a summer tropical storm and perhaps we’ve come upon the origination of the phrase “tempest in a teapot”!
Competing with such a unique and creative idea, the wall below with its flowerpot-shaped entry inΒ Shanghai’s Yuyuan Garden offers another interesting opportunity for wall-watchers.
“Do the walls come down when you think of me?”
Carly Simon
Lest we start to think that all of China’s walls are crumbling down, I’ve included a capture from modern-day Beijing. Below, we see two wall-washers cleaning the huge dome-like aquatics stadium from the 2008 Olympics. Look closely and you can see vistas of the city reflected in the face of the building. The Olympic Park is a very interesting stop, especially when it follows a visit to the hutongs, China’s oldest neighborhoods – the contrast is astounding.
“How I long to be a shadow on the wall, I would make no sound at all.”
Brandi Carlile
Walls in Beijing, not unlike the big cities in the U.S., provide a perfect opportunity for advertising. The Chinese go beyond simple slogans and create beautiful works of art – such as the one below – to promote their products. I believe the subject of this colorful scene was some kind of milk.
Β “These walls have eyes, these walls have ears. They see the lies, they hide the fears.”
Β The Bee Gees
Finally, in my mind the best example of a wall ever created, the magnificent Great Wall of China. For more information, and many more photos, please visit my previous Great Wall post here.
“The wall stretches endless beside you to nowhere”
David Crosby
Poets and songwriters have written of walls in thousands of compositions through the years. Each of today’s quotes is from a song about walls, symbolizing for the most part the barriers we humans build to protect ourselves from the hurt and pain found in everyday life.
Β Thanks to Cheri for the interesting challenge. To see some other bloggers’ interpretations click here.
Always look forward to reading your quotes and seeing your always superb photos Tina. Great selection this week and perfect for Cheri’s photo challenge. Best wishes and have a great week π
Thanks very much Andrew. Thought I’d throw a bit of a curveball this week and go with song lyricsπ glad you enjoyed.
I always enjoy each and every one of your posts Tina. Hope you like my Palette Wall posted to this week’s Photo Challenge on your suggestion π
π excellent!!
Amazing and varied selection of walls Tina. Incidentally “the hole in the wall” is a term we use over here for the ATM machines…
Thanks PP–someone from the UK mentioned that earlier as well. Hard to believe we’re all English speaking! Now I must go pop some shrimp on the barbyππ
Ok Mate….
I absolutely love the street shots of the walls. Fabulous entry Tina!
Thanks Nicole–the street shots show more of the real China than those of glitzy Beijing or Shanghai. Both are amazing. Glad you enjoyed these!
I too thought about the Great Wall, but instead showcased a little artsy neighbourhood in Shanghai.
Can’t go wrong with either approach CTB! Thanks for stopping by.
I have done the wall a lot, so I wanted to show everyone something new. People might start to wonder what I did in China for 5 years? Go to the Great Wall? LOL
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Thank you for such a varied thoughtful look at China. I wish I’d been touring with you!
ππ. I must admit no other blogger has wished to have traveled with me until now! China is a wonderful adventure, I highly recommend it!
These are all so interesting and wonderful, Tina. The window washer one is my favourite. What a job he has! Love that beautiful wall art in Beijing too.
Thanks AD2P , I loved those washers too, that building was MASSIVE!!
I always like how you capture the people in your shots Tina. Great post.
Thanks Andy! I’m not very brave about approaching strangers although I sometimes do, but a long zoom works wonders at timesπ
Tina, what an amazing journey you took us on with this post! I am going to go back to view your one about the Great Wall of China. I have never been to China but my in-laws have and they have shared wonderful tales about their visit.
Thanks so much Grace. It’s an amazing trip. Tell you what–you go to China and I’ll go to Pompeii and we’ll be evenπ
Sounds like a deal, Tina! π
Wonderful post! I loved seeing China through your eyes.
Thanks Patti. It was an amazing adventure, a photographer’s dream!
An intriguing post… Made me think about the apps we humans have so successfully built around ourselves… Sadly.. Your “red door”is beckoning further detail! Linda
Many thanks Miss LInda. Glad it provoked a bit of thought from one of the best thinkers I know!
Intriguing post, Tina. Great angle on the Great Wall shot. It captures how extensive it is.
Thanks Jane – it’s truly amazing isn’t it?!
I enjoyed all your photos on the series of
The many great walls of China ~ Fabulously
beautiful! Unbelievably wonderful are your
Quotes as well! Imagine that, perfectly matched with BGees, Carly Simon and
Brandi Carlisle? Genius! π
LOL, hadn’t thought about how the artists were combined Atureaud! Thanks for your lovely comment!
Beautiful interpretation of this week’s challenge, along with magnificent photos from China, Tina. You are so right. Walls are not just physical, but invisible, emotional barriers that we put up around ourselves be it due to fear or our desire to protect ourselves or hide. Sometimes walls test us. For the longest time I put off writing a book because of fear of being judged, then realised that my biggest obstacle was myself. If I can dream it, I can certainly do it and my wall of fear came down.
Interesting to hear you say the simple crumbling brown-red wall is your favourite photo out of the ones you took on this holiday. I like it too – a simple but mysterious building that has stood the test of time and probably hoards a million stories beneath those boarded windows π
Thanks Mabel, for your, as always, thoughtful comment. Good for you for following your dreams girl! Appreciate your visit and your thoughts.
Tina, what great lyrics to accompany your walls. The red door and the wall washers are especially striking.
Thanks Jann – I especially appreciate your comment on the wall washers, I loved that one which was way different from my norm!
Enjoyed your entries, and the quotes/lyrics!
Many thanks SB & K, glad you enjoyed.
Your images have such a rich sense of humanity, they are so engaging. I love the direction your art is taking.
Thanks very much Charlie; sorry it took a while to respond, your comment went to spam π¦
I immediately loved the Bike on the Wall until I came to Dad and Daughter. What a beautiful photo.
Thank you Lois – interestingly it wasn’t a shot I particularly focused on as I reviewed my China favorites the first time through but this time it really called to me. Always depends on your mood when you looking I suppose. Glad you like that one, me too π
Amazing collection of walls, Tina!
Thank you R2T, glad you enjoyed!
Gorgeous photos, Tina. Love the quotes and the passion you put into your work. Great post.
Thanks so much Dina, glad you enjoyed this one.
Great selections of photos, they show a great sense of humanity within the walls. P.S. In the UK a “hole in the wall” is also a cash machine (ATM, just shows how the same thing can have so many different meanings!
Thanks Katie – especially for the ATM info – crazy how something can be so different between two English speaking countries. I always think of the word Boot as the best example π
Remarkable photos reminding me of that great country. Thanks.
My pleasure Francesca, thanks for stopping by!
A magnificent shot of the Great Wall!
Thanks Amy – it’s a magnificent structure; impossible not to be amazed and awed!
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Nice interpretation of the challenge!
Thanks Freddy!
These are a fabulous series of shots. Your vision of such an interesting and most historical spot is wonderful along with your commentary. Beautifully done!
Thanks so much Debby – appreciate your lovely comment. The history in China is quite amazing, especially when compared with the short-lived history of our USA π
China indeed has the Greatest wall.
They certainly do Perpetua, they certainly do! It’s amazing, but even more so when you look at the history of how it was built.
I’ve seen the wall of China before but your other walls of China were an amazing thing to see. Great photos.
Thanks very much Francine. Interesting how we pass by what might be considered mundane on our way to the fabulous. Sometimes we just pass by the wonderful without looking!
The contrast of the pink against the gray decaying wall is a terrific image. Good choices! Beautiful images, all of them K
thanks Kath! I loved the little pink person surrounded by that sea of gray π
Wall to wall walls. Wonderfully wicked!
Thanks Micheal – it’s a wicked world over there – lots to see and shoot!
All of them are Great, Tina.. But, I love ARTISTIC ADVERT the most.. It needs skills and patience to make it happened…
Thank you Nurul – yes the artist on that one must have been extremely talented!
I knew I was in for a treat when I saw you email and then your title. I was right. Too many excellent photos to choose one or two favorites. I simply enjoyed them all.
janet
Thanks so much Janet – it was nice to revisit the China archives to put this one together. Photos and memories – perfect together!
Fabulous photos Tina!
Thank you Adrian – are you back from Iceland and warmed up again yet π ?
Great post! I’ve never been to China before and these photographs were just so interesting!
Thank you Sukanya – China is a world unto itself, like nothing else I’ve seen. I expected a lot and was not disappointed!
Wonderful selections!
Many thanks Maverick – nice to e-see you again!
Beautiful and interesting photos, all perfect for the challenge.
Thank you Neihtn.
A fantastic entry for the challenge! Your photos are beautiful.
Thanks very much Angeline!
a beautiful and varied collection. I just love “Bike on a Wall”
Many thanks Susan – had a hard time choosing the feature photo this week but appreciate your commenting on that one – it was my favorite this week π
Wonderful images.
Thanks Rabirius!
Wow… Beautiful pictures!! Love them all but the garden cut-out drew a second look. Amazing photos!!
Thank you Secretangel – I too found it worthy of a second look!
Well observed Tina – my favourites are ‘Bike on a Wall’ and ‘Red Door’. I love a bit of decay π
Thanks Jude – yes indeed, we photographers love decay – what do you suppose that’s all about?!?!?
Lovely photos.
Many thanks Jeff
Lovely set of wall images, Tina! That red door is so my kind of thing!!
Thank you Sue – yep, gotta love some good decay LOL!
Well, you know it’s my ‘thing’!
Dad and Daughter and The Red Door are my favorites in your collection of walls. The Great Wall is on my list of places to visit… but as your photos demonstrate, there are a lot more things to see in your images than simply a wall.
Thank you John – China in general is a fascinating trip and The Great Wall met and exceeded even my wildest expectations. Hope you get to visit one day.
T
These are fantastic.
Many thanks Cape!
Terrific images of China, Tina. I am particularly drawn to “Dad and Daughter”. Great light and expressions.
Thanks very much Jane. A lovely moment I was happy to capture.
Such a wonderful way of seeing China π Thank you, for giving us such a human and touchable piece of a world many of us have not known. It’s so easy to see our countries as stereotypes, but in reality they are so much more; more human and natural and similar in ways we never expect.
Well said Taasha, thanks so much for your thoughtful comment.
Great and interesting pictures.
Thanks Robert!
Those are all just amazing!
Thanks Mary, glad you enjoyed.
Interesting and beautiful set of photos! π Kamila
Thanks very much Kamila!