Cultural Moments Through a Camera

Being an exchange student, I use my camera to bridge cultures and capture moments from the country I call my second home.

Traditional Minnan‑style houses, with roofs distinctly curved and walls time‑honoured, stood shoulder to shoulder. The rhythmic calls of free‑range chickens provided background music for our shoot, occasionally interrupted by the distant laughter of villagers passing along the paths.

What struck me most was such plain warmth. A woman rode past with a basketful of leafy greens, her feet barely touching the ground as she slowed to exchange greetings with neighbours. At the store, the owner, wearing a gentle smile, wiped his hands carefully before weighing out dried mushrooms for regular customers.

In that instant, I felt I was carried 3,000 kilometres south to my grandmother’s village. Though the landscape differed, the essence remained unchanged: that familiar village ecosystem where shopkeepers remember your favourite childhood treats and in locals catch up on the latest news.

This is the China I have come to know. It is not just through its high‑rises and express trains, but in these pockets of everyday life that resonate across cultures. The world stretches wide yet draws near, connected together by the shared kindness.