China’s Shifting Relationship to the Countryside
Source: newyorker.com
- British photographer Catherine Hyland captures hundreds of brides posing in white dresses on a high alpine meadow in Yunnan Province.
- China's countryside now draws urban tourists, young dropouts fleeing city jobs, and traditional farmers amid shifting lifestyles.
- Her photos highlight quirky contrasts between curated wedding shoots, empty playgrounds, and fading rural traditions.
Catherine Hyland's photographs explore how China's massive rural-to-urban migration has reversed, with cities emptying into scenic countryside spots like Yunnan Province. Brides ignore stunning mountain views for selfies, while young "lying flat" escapees sip Starbucks near working farms. This shows a prosperous China grappling with nature tourism, generational clashes, and uncertain futures for villages.