Technoliteracy

As part of our amazing Educational leaders tour to China (Sept 17th – Oct 1st), we were required to select a theme for the focus of our photography. Each of the 18 participants have compiled collages on a variety of themes which will represent life in China. My theme was “Old meets New” and so that you can see each of the photos in a little more detail than my collage allows, I have used VUVOX to create this little presentation. (Click on the arrows beside the share tab – to view fullscreen)

Old meets new An explanation of the photos

1. The Bell Tower in Xian – now surrounded by modern shops and cars. I was actually standing on the balcony of a shiny new McDonalds restaurant taking this photo.
2. A high tech digital screen being set up inside the Ancient city wall
3. A view of the 600 + year old City wall of Xian – which is just part of the vista for motorists in modern vehicles. This photo was taken from the seat of our bus.
4. A view of modern sky scrapers from the site of the Daming Palace in Xian
5. A member of the youngest generation in China – witnessing some of the traditions which he will inherit, at the Daming Palace in Xian.
6. 5 year olds at school, practising the ancient Qijong exercises of their ancestors.
7. Modern cars stream under this traditional Chinese structure
8. A traditional Chinese park with its lake, pagodas, bridges and small buildings, dwarfed by modern China in the background.
9. Paddle boats spoil and clutter the magnificent lake of the Tianjin park
10. Imposing modern Chinese sky scrapers, provide a stunning background for this ancient Chinese home of the Shi family in Xian.
11. Tianjin park
12. I thought this was beautiful – retired people sharing the song of the nightingales, with the people in the park.
13. A monk wandering around modern China – the influence of Buddha can be seen all throughout China.
14. Maybe a case of new meets old – with thousands of visitors and tourists to witness the Great Wall of China.
15. Fresh fruit – for so long, a staple of China – now adapting to meet the sugar demand of modern China – or maybe just the younger Chinese. These caramelised fruit sticks are a popular street snack. Photographed outside the Forbidden City in Beijing.
16. The Chinese commitment to exercise takes on a modern slant, with exercise equipment dotted all along the walking tracks along the City Wall in Xian.
17. The ancient art of calligraphy comes to modern China via way of large, foam brushes and a bucket of water. Still a highly prized skill in China.
18. More for fun than anything else, I included this young couple – he, looking a little traditional with the hat and the long beard and she looking a tad sceptical.
19. The hopeful and beautiful faces of China’s future. These students learn about traditional China, as well as learning English which will equip them for life in the 21st century.