Zhang Xiao: Exploring the Coastline of China

Zhang Xiao is a Chinese photographer who has published several series of photographs of China in flux. Born in Yantai City, Shandong Province, China, Zhang Xiao graduated from the Department of Architecture and Design at Yantai University in 2005. Before becoming a freelance photographer in 2009, he worked as a photographer for Chongqing Morning Post.

China – 

Photography feature – Zhang Xiao started his journey from 2009-2013 along the coastline of China. China has long coastline which from the mouth of Yalu river in Liaoning province in the northern to the mouth of Beilun river in Guangxi province in the southern. Totally, it is continuous eighteen thousands kilometers. There are great changes every day in China since it began opening up 30 years ago. The cities are like big construction sites speeding their construction pace to catch up with the rest of the world. All of this appears particularly outstanding in China’s coastal areas. A multitude of countrymen leave their native place to go there. Urbanization drive continually accelerate growth while people’s spiritual life stay.


Coastline by Zhang Xiao                                      Zhang Xiao’s Coastline published by Jiazazhi 


In China, every year hundreds of millions of people find work in other places. During the Spring Festival, hundreds of millions of people return home during a very short time, so the whole family can be reunited. They come from everywhere, North to South, East to West. People often lose their way during this process, losing the feeling of a real home. Lacking a sense of belonging, perhaps this is a symptom of being Chinese during this time.

Related Posts

Emeric Lhuisset: Hundred Portraits of Demonstrators from Maydan Square in Ukraine

Ukraine –  On Maydan Square in Kiev, French photographer Émeric Lhuisset (b. 1983) created a compelling series of portraits of ...

Manik Katyal on Thomas Mailaender “The Night Climbers of Cambridge”

United Kingdom – With an elegant black velvet cover, ‘The Night Climbers of Cambridge’ is an enthralling collaboration between London ...

Thabiso Sekgala : Second Transition

South Africa –  ‘Second Transition’ is the series of images that I’ve photographed in the areas around the mining town ...

Marilene Coolens Lisa De Boeck

Marilène Coolens & Lisa De Boeck: “The Umbilical Vein” – Mother Photographs Her Daughter For 13 Years

Belgium – For The Umbilical Vein, photography team Memymom, composed of mother Marilène Coolens and daughter Lisa De Boeck, unearth a collection ...

Frederic Lezmi: Taksim Calling

Turkey –  Taksim Calling is an unconventional poster book that contrasts spontaneously taken iPhone pictures of  the Gezi protests by ...

Black Gold Hotel – Michele Palazzi

Mongolia – The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management awarded Italian photographer Michele Palazzi, the Environmental Photographer of the Year Award, ...

Video: Emaho Mussoorie Workshop with Cristina de Middel & Ricardo Cases in collaboration with IED Madrid

Organized by EMAHO and IED MADRID Dated: June 19-22nd June,2014 India The recent success of the Spanish photobook has produced much curiosity and ...

Simon Baker : ‘Europe’s No Longer The Home Of Photography’

England – Simon Baker of Tate Modern London is the institute’s first curator of photography and international art and is ...

Federico Clavarino: Italia o Italia

Spain –   Italia o Italia is built over the ruins of an unresolved empire, a place in which monuments ...