The magazine of the art-form of the photo-essay
July 2016 back issue
“A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine. Fabulous!”
Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film & documentary maker
by Douglas Hook
Jialing River; A tributary of the Yangtze River with its source in Gansu province, the Jialing gets its name from its
crossing of the Jialing Vale in Feng County of Shaanxi. The Jialing is a river with a great history; a story of a spy
escaping and the supply of essential logistics during the anti-Japanese war, not to mention, the river flooding many
times in history and again in the late 90s. It has helped, as well as hindered people living on its embankments for
centuries.
I haven't wanted to show the scale of the 1,119 kilometre long river as I think this speaks for itself, but rather
the variety of life surrounding it. What better place than the metropolis in which its convergence with the largest river in
China occurs, Chongqing. I wanted to capture the resulting beauty of the river, as well as the unsanitary aspects of the
Jailing as it has passes through the many towns and cities, picking up artifacts, people’s valuables, plastic bags/bottles
and even a toilet.
Written on the rocks is engraved "Jialing River". The women bends down to collect
plastic bottles to sell to recycling companies.
A recreational part of the weekend for many local Chongqing locals is to go to the river
to fish.
Fishing off the Ciqikou riverside. Although the pollution has come under the scrutiny of
local and international environmentalists, many fishermen are still able to bag a catch.
Weddings in China are big business. Shooting a wedding scene next to the idyllic river
of the Jialing could be used locally as advertising for the company as well as nationally.
One of the fairground sellers sitting and waiting for customers. during the off-season.
A view of the inside of one of the many boats that line the Jialing river.
Many local people go to the river to wash their scooters and motorcycles. Here next to
the Shimen bridge people also go swimming on the warm summers days to cool down.
Many local residents take regular swims in the river. This particular resident swims
across the (often quite strong) Jialing river.
The new bypass is being laid along one of the popular tourist areas of Chongqing.
A redeveloped ‘old town’ made to look like a traditional Chinese street for tourism.
Lazy days alongside the Jialing river. Meeting with friends and long periods of
comfortable silence in good company frequent the riverside.
Chongqing is going through a transition from old to new. Many of the people of
Chongqing use traditional Chinese farming methods to cultivate the land.
One worker walks a unique way to work. Although not open to the public, many use
this structure to commute along the rivers.
An old, abandoned structure. A monument to the passing of industry in central
Chongqing having been pushed to the suburbs due to the heavy pollution in the city.
Fishing in the heat of the midday sun, this fisherman covers his skin with a jacket and
hat to protect himself.
Chongqing has the name "the city of bridges" due to amount of crossing's along the
Jialing river as well as the Changjiang (Yangtze River).
On the humid hot days many of the locals go to the river to cool off. These two lads
cool off near Ciqikou, the older area of Chongqing that has seen redevelopment.
