Through the Lens: 2023

These were the pictures featured in 2023’s editions of What’s Happening in China. All photos by PC.

January

Snowy evening in Beijing.

Panoramic view facing north from the summit of Jingshan Park in Beijing.

Towels hanging out to dry in a historic Beijing neighborhood.

February

Lanterns illuminate the entrance to a traditional Beijing courtyard on a full moon night.

The National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing.

Skyscrapers in Lujiazui, Shanghai.

A Beijing kite seller at the Olympic Green.

March

Traffic on the North 2nd Ring Road in Beijing.

Sewer maintenance workers in Beijing.

Buddhist monks at the Guanghua Temple in Beijing.

Brooms resting against a wall, a common sight in Beijing's hutongs.

April

Gulou Dongdajie, a bustling central street in Dongcheng District, where you can still feel the essence of old Beijing.

Men playing Chinese chess in a Beijing hutong.

Underground passage in Beijing.

Kids playing in a hutong in Beijing.

Spring blossoms in Beijing.

May

A公馆 (Residence A) playing at the old location of Mao Live House on Gulou Dongdajie in Beijing.

Intersection in downtown Beijing.

Busy migrant workers in Beijing.

Ganden Sumtsenling Monastery, Shangri-La, Yunnan Province.

June

Candlelight vigil in Hong Kong, in 2014, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Construction worker in a hutong in Beijing.

The Tiger Leaping Gorge (Yunnan Province) is part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a must-see for any visitor to China.

Summertime at the Summer Palace, Beijing.

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July

Erhai Lake, Yunnan Province.

Cathay Theatre in Shanghai, a stunning example of Art Deco architecture.

Tourists pose for photos in front of the iconic Mao portrait at the Tiananmen Gate, Beijing.

White stupa of Baitasi Temple in Beijing.

Kids playing on the street in Beijing.

August

Jingshan Park, a beautiful imperial garden in the center of Beijing, offers an unobstructed view of the Forbidden City.

Young boy takes a stroll with his pull-along duck companion in a Beijing hutong.

September

Skaters in downtown Beijing. Despite the challenges, skateboarding in China continues to grow in popularity.

Young boy in old Beijing.

A snapshot of life in Beijing, with the Drum Tower in the background.

The Marco Polo Bridge in Beijing is a historic stone bridge. It was praised by Marco Polo in the 13th century during his visit to China, and the 20th-century Marco Polo Bridge Incident marked the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945).

Beijing bicycle.

October

The Bell Tower of Beijing, an iconic landmark in the heart of the city.

A group of men play mahjong in a Beijing hutong at night.

A completed Sudoku puzzle skillfully chalked by kids on a Beijing hutong wall.

Street chess in the heart of Beijing at night.

November

Traffic on the East 2nd Ring Road in Beijing — with vertical symmetry.

Located in the Lujiazui area of the Pudong district in Shanghai, the Shanghai Tower is the third tallest building in the world, with a height of 632 meters (2,073 feet).

Green Lake Park in Kunming — with vertical symmetry.

Photographers patiently waiting to capture runners participating in the Beijing Marathon. Held around October since 1981, the race begins at Tiananmen Square and finishes in the Olympic Green.

December

Nighttime skyline view of Shanghai's Lujiazui financial district. A glittering display of modern architecture emerging from the darkness, as seen from across the Huangpu River.

Two migrant workers take a break on a chilly winter day in a quiet corner of Nanluoguxiang, a world away from the bustling commercial hub it has become today.

Couple poses for a photo against a snow-covered backdrop at the Great Wall's Mutianyu section.

Snow falls over buildings along Beijing's historical Guozijian Street.

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