May 2005

05.03.2005: Mao Museum, Chengdu, China


Wang Anting Xiaoxiao Zhanlanguan, aka the Mao Museum, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

The museum is the work of Wang Anting, right, who has collected many thousands of badges and other items bearing the likeness of Chairman Mao. The Mao impersonator at left may or may not have been part of the collection. The woman’s role could not be ascertained.

Calling it a museum is a bit of a stretch.

It’s really Mr. Wang’s small dirt-floor house, which has been almost completely taken over by his collection.

To be honest, it could have used a little curating. (Photo by F.)

The trio kept wanting us to take pictures with them and various Maos. It was hard to leave. Literally.

Comments: 4

05.06.2005: Street Life, Chengdu, China


Chengdu, China.


Ear cleaning.

Precision telecom repair.

The entire staff of a hotpot restaurant, including the hostess in red cheongsam and heels, holds a pep rally and takes a few laps around the parking lot before the dinner shift starts. (I took a movie of this accidentally.)

This woman was playing cards through the back fence of a tea garden, perhaps after committing some horrible violation of tea garden etiquette.

Comments: 2