China Photographer

Romans in Gansu

2007-02-03T00:49:00.000+08:00

href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Slideshow/slideshowAudio.jhtml;jsessionidADQ41CJ22DTORQFIQMGCFFWAVCBQUIV0?xml=/AudioGallery/china/roman/nosplit/roman2.xml&site=news>Slide show from the Daily Telegraph - story by Richard Spencer

Wardrobe Rides Bike

2007-02-01T20:35:00.000+08:00

Wardrobe Rides Bike, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A Muslim Hui man carries a wardrobe on a bicycle in the western Chinese city of Lanzhou. Bicycling is the transportation mode of choice for up to 70% of the urban passenger trips in China. As the most populous country in the world, China has relied heavily on bicycles for passenger transportation. The economic reform policy adopted in the late 1970s has brought dramatic economic growth during the last decade. Subsequently, bicycle ownership in urban areas increased from one bicycle for every three persons in 1980 to one bicycle for every two persons in 1990.

crossing a double line

2007-01-13T22:13:00.000+08:00

crossing a double line, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A cyclist alone on a Shanxi road.

Futile gardening

2007-01-08T12:34:00.000+08:00

Futile gardening, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A gardener tends to shrubs along Beijing's third-ring road during a weekday rush hour

Shy Xiaojie

2006-12-20T12:34:00.000+08:00

Shy Xiaojie, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

In a Beijing restaurant.

Shanghai Portraits Slideshow

2006-12-20T01:02:00.000+08:00

shanghai 10

2006-12-20T00:31:00.000+08:00

shanghai 10, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A hairdresser talks on the phone as she waits for customers in Shanghai.

Chefs & Brothers

2006-12-15T11:01:00.000+08:00

Chefs & Brothers, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Working together at a Shanghai restaurant.

Shanghai - Pajamas

2006-12-14T13:27:00.000+08:00

Shanghai - Pajamas, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A woman in her pajamas in Shanghai.

Old friends

2006-12-12T22:35:00.000+08:00

Old friends, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

老朋友 - 上海 -11月

Tiny Tourists

2006-12-11T20:51:00.000+08:00

Tiny Tourists, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Chinese tourists sit next to a wall in the Forbidden City in central Beijing.

gold fish

2006-12-08T21:53:00.000+08:00

gold fish, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

In Zhouzhuang, China

Photographer links from Lightstalkers

2006-11-21T11:15:00.000+08:00

Erica McDonald Donald Weber Paul Treacy David Honl Frank Johnson Ethan Rafal Carsten Bockermann Art Rothfuss Velibor Bozovic Cyril Bitton Roger Arnold Jon Anderson Zev Jonas Mara Catalan Tony Reddrop Ben Curtis Bruce Flashnick Subhamoy Tony Stringer David Lucas Alex Reshuan Wayne Yang Rafal Milach Martin Shakeshaft Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert Mark Manley Andy Levin

zhouzhuang01

2006-11-17T09:36:00.000+08:00

zhouzhuang01, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A boat makes its way down an alley in the "water village" of Zhouzhuang in China's Jiangsu Province. Zhouzhuang is a popular touristic destination. It is one of the most famous water townships in China, noted for its profound cultural background, the well preserved ancient residential houses, the elegant watery views and the strong local colored traditions and customs. It has been called the "Venice of the East".

North Korean Soldieress

2006-11-06T19:02:00.000+08:00

North Korean Soldieress, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A female North Korean soldier stands guard along the bank of the Yalu River separating the DPRK from China.

Changchunjie 02

2006-10-30T19:10:00.000+08:00

Changchunjie 02, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A middle class apartment in central Beijing.

Saluting Soldier

2006-10-25T12:42:00.000+08:00

Saluting Soldier, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Environmental crime

2006-10-24T09:52:00.000+08:00

Environmental crime, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A Chinese trader holds up a snow leapoard pelt he is offering to sell for 30 thousand RMB about 3800 USD. The world's highest railway was intended to foster closer economic links between China's capital and Tibet, but it is also proving a fast, safe and cost-effective route for smugglers to transport illegal goods such as endangered animal furs.

DPRK- Soldier with binoculars

2006-10-19T08:07:00.000+08:00

DPRK- Soldier with binoculars, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A North Korean soldier looks out at a Chinese boat with binoculars from the border town of Sunuiju, October 11, 2006.

Ang Lee and Zhangziyi

2006-10-17T09:05:00.000+08:00

Ang Lee and Zhangziyi, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Taiwanese director Ang Lee On the set of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon watching actress Zhang Ziyi rehearse a scene in Beijing Studios December 1999.

chuandixaia 02

2006-10-15T20:31:00.000+08:00

chuandixaia 02, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A man walks past a slogan advertising "Mao Zedong thought," in Chuandixia

tanzhesi

2006-10-14T07:57:00.000+08:00

tanzhesi, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A monk in Tanzhesi.

DPRK 15

2006-10-09T19:08:00.000+08:00

DPRK 15, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

North Korean soldiers keep watch from the town of Sunuiju on the DRPK-China border July 9, 2006. North Korea promised to use force against any country that tries to pressure it into a halt of its missile launches

Wen And Abe

2006-10-08T23:07:00.000+08:00

Wen And Abe, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) walks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) past an honour guard at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing October 8, 2006. Abe, selected as prime minister two weeks ago, quickly arranged the visit to China to emphasize his desire to improve ties between the estranged Asian neighbors.

xiao long bao

2006-10-06T17:25:00.000+08:00

xiao long bao, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A steamer of Xiao Long Bao for sale in a snack market in Hangzhou. Xiao long bao are a kind of snack that have stuffing and a bit of broth wrapped in a dumpling. The are a specialty in Hangzhou and Shanghai.

Macau Apartments

2006-10-03T22:14:00.000+08:00

Macau Apartments, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

An apartment block in Macau

Authur Hamilton McCally

2006-10-02T22:48:00.000+08:00

Authur Hamilton McCally, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Tombstone in the Old Protestant Cemetery in Macao.

Lhasa Beer

2006-09-28T06:47:00.000+08:00

Lhasa Beer, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Women work inspecting bottles at the Lhasa beer factory.

six o clock

2006-09-25T09:57:00.000+08:00

six o clock, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Passengers wait to board a train at the Dandong station in northeastern Liaoning Province. Still the cheapest mode of transport, most Chinese travelers prefer to take the train to flying.

Pingyao

2006-09-23T14:13:00.000+08:00

Pingyao, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A man rides past a shop in Pingyao.

cry baby

2006-09-21T10:52:00.000+08:00

IMG_1907, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A not-so-small- boy is carried by his father after having a tantrum on Tiananmen Square in Beijing. With the adoption in 1979 of the limited birth policy, which rapidly changed from a three to a two to a one child per couple policy, China became a child-centered culture rather than an adult-centered one. The only child is indulged by parents and grandparents and is often spoiled; this is known as the "little emperor syndrome."

state approved magazines

2006-09-14T13:30:00.000+08:00

state approved magazines, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A magazine vendor sells a large variety of pulications from a kiosk in western Beijing. China has angered international rights groups and media organisations with its new curbs on foreign journalists and news agencies. Authorities have announced rules requiring foreign media to get the approval of the government news agency, Xinhua, before releasing or distributing any news reports, pictures and graphics within China. The new rules empower Xinhua to censor and/or delete any content that it sees as a threat to national security and unity. In fact, Chinese parliament is currently deliberating a bill that would fine domestic and foreign media if they broke news on natural disasters and other emrgencies without authorisation.

PU ER Tea

2006-09-13T14:26:00.000+08:00

PU ER Tea, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Aged Pu Er tea is sampled by a customer in a tea shop in Beijing. Until recently, pu'er tea was seen as a cheap drink, mainly because the leaves could be easily stored in bricks or cakes for long periods of time. Then, in the 1990s, it began to be collected in southern China, and now the fashion has swept over northern China, pushing up the market prices to extraordinary levels. Retail shops and tea-tasting clubs are sprouting up all over the country.

Great Wall 01

2006-09-12T18:37:00.000+08:00

Great Wall 01, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

The Great Wall at Mutianyu north of Beijing.

Great Wall at Sunset

2006-09-10T22:04:00.000+08:00

Great Wall at Sunset, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

The Great Wall at Mutianyu, north of Beijing.

Dead 30 years today

2006-09-09T11:40:00.000+08:00

Dead 30 years today, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

The portrait of Mao Zedong, hanging on Tiananmen Gate in central Beijing. Mao died 30 years ago today- Spetember 9, 1976.

Girl on one foot

2006-09-08T10:48:00.000+08:00

Girl on one foot, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A Tibetan girl plays along the highway in dangxiong county north of Lhasa.

prayer wheels

2006-09-07T14:44:00.000+08:00

prayer wheels, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

An elderly Tibetan woman spins prayer wheels outside a small temple in Lhasa.

reflected wall

2006-09-05T20:29:00.000+08:00

reflected wall, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A wall is reflected in a pool in the Forbidden City in Beijing.

CCTV

2006-09-04T10:55:00.000+08:00

CCTV, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

The China Central Television tower at dusk in western Beijing.

Yak butter lanterns

2006-09-03T14:11:00.000+08:00

Yak butter lanterns, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Yak butter lanterns burn in the Jokang Temple.

one protester

2006-09-01T09:31:00.000+08:00

one protester, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A man from Anhui province shouts complaints and holds documents in front of a Beijing court house. The man accused officials in his hometown of corruption.

Digital Railroad update

2006-08-01T16:16:00.000+08:00

A Glimpse of North Korea

2006-07-31T17:18:00.000+08:00

Yi Li & Liu Xiang

2006-07-30T22:33:00.000+08:00

IMG_1030, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

An image of China's champion hurdler Liu Xiang, promotes Yili, a brand of dairy products in a Beijing supermarket July 18, 2006. In China, Liu, has become a popular pitchman, his image adorns advertising throughout the country, endorsing everything from cigarettes and beverages to clothing.

tanzhesi 07

2006-07-17T13:28:00.000+08:00

tanzhesi 07, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Fortune teller

MM

2006-07-15T00:19:00.000+08:00

MM, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Women queue for ice cream at McDonald's in Beijing

Tiananmen Gate after rain

2006-07-11T21:30:00.000+08:00

Tiananmen Gate after rain, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Chinese tourists vitsit Tiananmen Gate after a rain in Beijing July 10, 2006.

mao & hot pants

2006-07-10T13:10:00.000+08:00

mao & hot pants, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Dandong, China

DPRK 01

2006-07-09T07:52:00.000+08:00

DPRK 01, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A North Korean soldier walks along the river port town of Sinuiji July 8, 2006. China and North Korea are separated by the Yalu River, upon which Chinese tourists take pleaure cruises across the water to observe their less economically developed neighbors. North Korea has threatened to take "stronger physical actions" after Japan imposed punitive measures in response to its barrage of missile tests and pushed for international sanctions. North Korea has vowed to carry out more launches and has said it will use force if the international community tries to stop it.

dongzhimen

2006-07-06T23:45:00.000+08:00

dongzhimen, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

东直门发展很快！

hula in Mudanjiang

2006-07-04T23:15:00.000+08:00

hula in Mudanjiang, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A woman with a hula hoop socializes with her neighbors in Mudanjiang in China's northnern Heilongjiang Province, July 4, 2006.

Jingdezhen - workshop

2006-07-03T23:41:00.000+08:00

ceramic 09, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A artisan decorates a vase in a Jingdezhen pottery studio June 26, 2006. For more than 1000 years Chinese porcelain has been produced in the small town of Jingdezhen, Chinese Emperors once had their imperial kilns here, which produced the teacups they drank from for centuries. Today the tradition of creating ceramics and porcelain as art as well as for practical use survives in the town, which has hundreds of factories and workshops that export their wares all over the world.

Beijing Apartments 01

2006-07-02T21:46:00.000+08:00

Beijing Apartments 01, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

near Dongzhimen

Lunch: Jingdezhen

2006-07-01T15:46:00.000+08:00

Lunch: Jingdezhen, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

An elderly couple have lunch on the stoop in front of their modest home in Jingdezhen June 27, 2006. China seems to be following the same trajectory as Europe. The elderly, of whom there are roughly 100 million at the moment, will number almost 300 million by 2050, according to the World Bank's forecast.

Jingdezhen women

2006-06-28T10:42:00.000+08:00

Jingdezhen women, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Women walk down a Jingdezhen street June 27, 2006. State media has reported that China's population will peak at 1.5 billion by the mid-2030s, and its sex ratio will remain skewed at 119 boys for every 100 girls. The internationally recognised normal ratio is 103 to 107 of one sex to 100 of the other.

eating jiaozi

2006-06-26T18:14:00.000+08:00

eating jiaozi, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

I love the look on this kids face - he is deciding, "should i eat my dinner or freak out about the laowai taking my picture?"

Beijing Night Market Slideshow

2006-06-22T17:15:00.000+08:00

An Older Profession

2006-06-21T09:11:00.000+08:00

An Older Profession, originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/chinapix/.

Women entertain guests at a new, supposedly high-class night club in a five star hotel in Beijing. Prostitution is quickly growing into a national problem for China, and it is increasing the spread of AIDS and other sexually communicable diseases

forbidden city slide show

2006-06-20T13:15:00.000+08:00

South Koreans Enjoying a meal of Whale Meat

2006-06-19T21:36:00.000+08:00

050403nbb05, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Pusan, South Korea, 3 April 2005 - A South Korean couple enjoy a whale meat snack at a market in Pusan South Korea April 3, 2005. While Korea has no official whaling programme, if a whale or dolphin is found dead in a fishing net, it can be sold on the open market for huge prices - in 2004 the average price paid for a mature minke whale was US$100 000. It is perhaps no coincidence therefore, that Korea has some of the highest cetacean bycatch incidents in the world, second only to Japan. Greenpeace/Photo by Natalie Behring

Fresh Scorpion Kebab

2006-06-16T16:54:00.000+08:00

Fresh Scorpion Kebab, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A tray of fresh scorpion kebabs for sale in Beijing's Dong Hua Men Night Market in the city center May 10, 2006. Every evening dozens of vendors set up stalls along the road and sell traditional snacks ranging from simple noodles and local specialties to more exotic treats like entrails reptiles and insect kebabs.

dragon

2006-06-15T21:37:00.000+08:00

dragon, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Detail in the Forbidden City.

Cancer Village 8

2006-06-13T17:51:00.000+08:00

Cancer Village 8, originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/chinapix/.

Ms. Ji Shaolian weeps for the recent death her husband as she holds his portrait in the polluted village of Liu Kuai Zhuang. Her husband died of lung cancer at 58. Locals say over 200 residents in the two villages have been diagnosed with diseases including bone, lung, liver and breast cancers, while a handful of children are suffering from leukemia. A report on the People's Daily website, quoting Tianjin health authorities, said the rates of cancer in Liukuaizhuang and Xiditou were 1,313 and 2,032 per 100,000 people, way above the national average of 70 per 100,000 people.

Read Richard Spencer's story at The Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/31/wchina31.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/05/31/ixnews.htm

Dalian Shipyard

2006-06-02T14:34:00.000+08:00

Dalian Shipyard, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Chinese ship yard workers paint the seams of steel on the hull or a large ship under construction in the Dalian Ship Yard in China's northeast Liaoning Province May 30, 2006.

Chinese couple in love

2006-05-30T00:19:00.000+08:00

060529nbb01, originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/chinapix/.

A young Chinese couple share a romanitc moment in Beijing May 29, 2006. 'One-third of urban Chinese youth believe extra-marital affairs and sex before marriage should be tolerated, while viewing pre-marital sex as "good" for married life, a recent state report revealed

Last Emperor Pu Yi

2006-05-28T13:08:00.000+08:00

Last Emperor Pu Yi, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A portrait of China's last Qing Emperor Pu Yi, for sale at Beijings popular tourist trap - Panjiayuan market aka the dirt market. There are about 16 pix in this set on my flickr site.

DaVinci Code dvd for $1.00

2006-05-27T23:04:00.000+08:00

DaVinci Code dvd for $1.00, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

The world's latest and most popular moves for sale in pirated DVD form on a central Beijing road May 25, 2006. Beijing still has a long way to go towards meeting its World Trade Organisation commitments, with a lack of transparency and ineffective crackdowns on piracy listed as main obstacles by mainland-based US investors

Beijing 2008

2006-05-25T22:44:00.000+08:00

060525nbb02, originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/chinapix/.

A smoker takes a break next to an advertisement for the 2008 Summer Olympics set to be held in China's capital, in the city-center May 25, 2006. International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials gave thumbs-up earlier in May to Beijing's preparations for the 2008 Games as they completed a three-day inspection tour. Despite choking pollution, sweeping human rights abuses, and media suppression through out the country, the committee was delighted with China's progress.

National Grand Theatre

2006-05-23T21:02:00.000+08:00

National Grand Theatre, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Pedestrians and cyclists pass the by the construction site of China's new National Grand Theatre in central Beijing May 23, 2006. The egg-shaped structure has been designed by French architect Paul Andreu, and will cost 2.68-billion-yuan (US$328 million). It is being erected in spite of past doubts over whether it should be in the company of the solemn Tiananmen Square.

060519nbb01

2006-05-20T00:48:00.000+08:00

060519nbb01, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Bumper to bumper traffic at an intersection in central Beijing May 19 ,2006. Check out the idiot making a u-turn.

Woman worker

2006-05-17T21:11:00.000+08:00

060517nbb20, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A Chinese worker cuts steel rods at the Flying Pigeon bicycle factory in Tianjin, China May 16, 2006.

Forbidden City

2006-05-16T19:35:00.000+08:00

Forbidden City, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Chinese soldeirs

2006-05-10T23:11:00.000+08:00

Chinese soldeirs, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

An honour guard pracitse in front of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

cat 猫

2006-05-09T08:55:00.000+08:00

cat 猫, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A tom-cat watches traffic pass his house in a central Beijing hutong

wax

2006-05-05T23:22:00.000+08:00

wax, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A girl wears a wedding veil as she poses for a photo with a wax figure of Prince William at the newly opened Madame Tussaud's in Shanghai.

May Day on Tiananmen Square

2006-05-03T23:12:00.000+08:00

flag over mother's face, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Mutianyu Great Wall

2006-05-03T00:08:00.001+08:00

A view of a section of China's "Great Wall" at Mutianyu north of Beijing. Adding a new chapter to a longstanding mythical story about what on Earth is visible from space, Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei reported he did not see the Great Wall of China during his historic mission.

2006-05-01T09:28:00.000+08:00

A man receives accupuncture treatment at the Beijing Traditional Medicine Hospital. Weaknesses in China's health system were disastrously highlighted during the 2003 epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome, he said, which killed more than 700 people worldwide.

Beijing subway

2006-04-29T19:32:00.000+08:00

Beijing subway, originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/chinapix/.

A cosmetics advertisement looks in to the window of a subway car in central Beijing. The counterfeiting of high-end cosmetics and fragrances in China is big business and it is hitting luxury goods makers hard.

Talklamakan desert

2006-04-28T16:07:00.000+08:00

desert, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A view of the Taklamakan Desert in China's western Xinjiang Province. The Taklamakan is China's largest desert, situated in the middle of the largest Basin, Tarim in Xinjiang Province. This is reputed to be the world's second largest shifting-sand desert covering an area of over 33, 700 square kilometers.

ice cream

2006-04-27T16:38:00.000+08:00

ice cream, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Siblings get ice cream in the Hetian Sunday market. In 1884 Xinjiang officially became a province of China. Then known in the west as Chinese Turkestan, its new name "Xinjiang" means "New Frontier" in Chinese Mandarin. Until the Chinese Communist Revolution in 1949, Han Chinese accounted for only 15 percent of the total population of Xinjiang. After 1949 it was renamed again as Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region as the new Chinese govenrment stepped up immigration from East China. Consequently today the Han number more than 50 percent, which is diluting the heavily Muslim population and has caused ethnic tension between the two groups. China's government policies limit the size of Muslim families and curb religious education, causing friction between Uyghurs and Han.

Getting a shave in Minfeng

2006-04-26T08:07:00.000+08:00

shave, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Uyghur men get shaves at a barbershop in Minfeng in Chin'a Xinjiang Province. In 1884 Xinjiang officially became a province of China. Then known in the west as Chinese Turkestan, its new name "Xinjiang" means "New Frontier" in Chinese Mandarin. Until the Chinese Communist Revolution in 1949, Han Chinese accounted for only 15 percent of the total population of Xinjiang. After 1949 it was renamed again as Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region as the new Chinese govenrment stepped up immigration from East China. Consequently today the Han number more than 50 percent, which is diluting the heavily Muslim population and has caused ethnic tension between the two groups. China's government policies limit the size of Muslim families and curb religious education, causing friction between Uyghurs and Han.

Shop - Hotan

2006-04-25T17:15:00.000+08:00

Shop - Hotan, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

A Uyghur boys tends a shop on market day in Hotan.

worker irrigates desert

2006-04-25T17:12:00.000+08:00

worker irrigates desert, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Workers irrigate a section of derert along the Talkamakan highway where a 60-meter-wide "tree belt" has been built to prevent the 522 KM road from being burried by sand. Xinjiang's Taklamakan Desert, is also known as the "sea of death."

luntai pool hall

2006-04-20T20:50:00.000+08:00

luntai pool hall, originally uploaded by www.nataliebehring.com.

Uyghur men play pool in a market hall in Luntai in China's western Xinjiang Province.

Charlatan sells medicine to poor

2006-04-16T21:32:00.000+08:00

Charlatan sells medicine to poor, originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/chinapix/.

A sales man tries to sell a health potion that he claims can cure most ailments, especially pain in the town of Luntai in China's western Xinjiang province. The potion is made of scorpions, ants, snakes and one bear. In the early 1980s, the highly successful decentralisation and privatisation of the economy resulted in dismantling of its health care system. China reduced the central government’s share of health care spending from 32 per cent in 1978 to 15 per cent in 1999, transferring this function to provincial and local authorities. This action favoured wealthy coastal provinces and led to growing disparities between urban and rural health care.

Fake Cop on a Desert Highway Xinjiang

2006-04-16T10:05:00.000+08:00

A fake policeman reminds motorists to reduce their speed on a highway in China's western Xinjiang Province. The World Health Organizationestimates that more than 600 lives are lost and more than 45,000 people areinjured on China's roads every day. In China, injuries from road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for people 15 to 45 years old.