THE PLACE PORTRAIT

BEIJING - JENNIFER SCHWERIN

Place
Xidan, Beijing, China

Location
Xidan corner

Local time of recording
06.00 p.m.

Camera person
Jennifer Schwerin

Description of the recording place
Beijing is a city in China. Both Beijing and China are changing very fast. Every other block in Beijing is a construction site. I just moved back here after 7 years and I don't recognize places. Also, the attitude of the people is different, less paranoid, less depressed. There is more hope

Description of the location
On Xidan the streets, sidewalks and stores are packed with shoppers. Everyone hastily coming and going on bikes, in buses, in taxis, on foot. Huge parking lots for bikes do a brisk business, people come and go with their purchases, a few stop to stare. I picked a corner with a view of a lot fo different movement in different directions, but still, just a typical busy shopping area

What is special to the choosen location
It is really quite ordinary. I chose it, because there was a lot of movement both near and far. Because some lights would come on when it got dark and because, hopefully I wouldn't get stopped by police. I picked it, because on a saturday evening everyone is out and about shopping and eating and this was a characteristic typical place, full of people in Beijing

What does the recording show
It shows a busy street and sidewalk with buses, cars, taxis and bike riders coming and going. I am right next to a bike parking lot, so many people come near the camera to park their bikes. Many people are coming out of the shops with their purchases of televisions or suitcases

What can be heard
In general, the hum of a busy street but specifically people talking and dealing with the bike parkers. Some other people arguing over a taxi, all sorts of these types of conversations. Also, every time someone steps on the metal manhole cover next to the camera, it makes a noise and a slight bumb to the camera

What happend at your location on the 9th of September
Nothing special, people shopped, ate bargained, argued and laughed. No police stopped me - quite unusual and very lucky

What happend in your country on the 9th of September
The world women's conference is going on in Beijing these days