Lijiang's lively Old Town goes back to the Ming Dynasty. Ancient bridges span its network of swiftly running canals. The Old Town has been gentrified, and is now filled with restaurants and shops catering to droves of visiting Chinese tourists. I made this image while having dinner alongside of the canal. The heavy bridge traffic speaks of the Old Town’s popularity with tourists. The monument behind the bridge adds context – it says China. The hint of a water wheel at left adds a touch of incongruity, and echoes the arches of the bridge. Finally, the evening light creates both mood and atmosphere. All of which helps define why all those tourists are on this bridge.

(I owe a debt of thanks to pbase nature photographers Allister and Allie Benn in Lijiang. Allister and Allie drove me all over that city and its surrounding villages, and Allie was kind enough to coordinate all of my private travel arrangements in China. You can view Allister's dazzling images, and some of Allie's as well at their pbase website at http://www.pbase.com/alibenn )