Coastline
Coastline — Zhang Xiao
China’s coastline stretches for over eighteen thousand kilometers — from the mouth of the Yalu River in Liaoning Province in the north, to the Beilun River in Guangxi Province in the south. Since the country began opening up more than thirty years ago, immense transformation has unfolded. Cities resemble vast construction sites, racing to catch up with the rest of the world. Nowhere is this pace of change more visible than along China’s coastal regions.
Every year, millions leave their rural hometowns to seek work in coastal cities. The drive for urbanization and economic growth continues relentlessly, while the spiritual life of the people often lags behind. During the Spring Festival, hundreds of millions return home for brief reunions, crossing the country from north to south, east to west. Yet amid this movement, many lose their sense of belonging — losing touch with what “home” truly means. As China undergoes drastic transformation, traditional values and customs are being displaced, leaving behind a quiet sense of dislocation.
While traveling and photographing along the coast, I was often asked, “What are you doing here? Is there anything worth photographing?” I would ask myself the same question — and always answer, “Just to see, to look around.” My aim is to record moments of contemporary China — its people, its landscapes, its truth — and to look toward the sea.
As a child, I longed for the sea. It seemed mysterious and unreachable. Today, that feeling remains. I go to the sea to seek emotional conflict, beauty, sorrow, and memory. The sea is the beginning of both life and dreams — and through it, I continue searching for a sense of home within my heart.
Text by Zhang Xiao
Language: English, Chinese, Japanese
Format: Softcover | 36 pages
Dimensions: 257 x 182mm | 140g
Limited Edition of 500
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