Huang Xian, or “Downtown”

Some scattered photos of the downtown area of Longkou. These are from the last month or so—just trying to catch up after weeks of a FUBAR computer situation (never spill anything on a laptop!). The sky is almost always overcast, which is the weather, not the smog. Fallows is annoying and I’ll leave it at that.

She will probably not marry me.

LOTS more to say about Chinese traffic, which is fascinating (no matter what Fallows says), and especially the various techniques for riding double and triple.

Worker, not a soldier.

I thought this was a special building of some kind, but it’s not.

The main drag. The inflated yellow/green/red arch was one of many around town at the beginning of October—part of China’s 60th celebrations (is my guess).

These girls are totally posing. I wish I knew where they got the finger-on-lip expression, since almost every other pose is the “V for victory.” Note that their outfits have matching fabrics and, I would guess, are homemade.

Mobile keymaking business. Note the amazing calligraphy on the flyer on the wall—it’s almost Arabesque!

Grandmother and granddaughter.

Mr. Cool.

This baby had just puked on the sidewalk. Guess where that baby carriage was made.