I was always a city boy even when I lived in China. The sky was always limited so the opportunity to get out of the city was always precious. I love the freedom in the village, the clean air and the night sky full of stars. It’s such a beautiful sight that I began to make photographs. I captured every small detail and the characteristics of the places that I had been to. After I emigrated to America I find that I yearn for the freedom of the village. Years have gone by and the desire to return grows stronger. This past summer I finally had the opportunity to return Guangzhou, where I was born and raised.

Guangzhou changed more than I had thought it could. I could no longer see my shadow in the places that I had been a child. It was somewhat depressing to see the great change that took place. However, I am still happy that I had the chance to revisit my birthplace. I then went to Shanghai for both the Expo and the Chinese Water Town which is much like Venice. There they have preserved a small town in order to protect the culture of the place where the richest man during the Song Dynasty had lived. This man was so wealthy that he was able to start a rebellion to overthrow that dynasty.

I went to five different places in three week’s time. The schedule was hectic. However, I tried all kinds of exotic and weird delicacies. They ranged from bugs like centipedes and scorpions to reptiles and snakes. Things you can only imagine in the pot of what the witch is brewing. I also experienced some strange aspects of my culture that I had never seen before. I saw a man in a chicken costume selling candy. Yes, that is a custom passed down from generation to generation. It inspired me to travel to other places to discover other things about my culture and share them through the lens of my camera.

Jackie Lu