China - Chengdu, Lady in Elaborate Costume

This very elaborate period costume, along with a very meticulous makeup job, plus the old signage in the background, all make for a keeper.  The more I think about it the easier it is to conclude that these places are the equivalent of the various Renaissance festivals we have in the States, only here they are permanent fixtures.

China - Chengdu, Brown Signage Against Old Building

 

China - Chengdu, Diorama of Rural Life

This is really just art capturing art, but I really like dioramas, particularly if they are well done.  We are offered a glimpse of life in miniature, whether it be city or country.  In this case we're looking at how things are done in a far-flung rural setting, just the kind of place I like to visit.

China - Chengdu, Roll-up Business Front

This is one of those roll-up fronts for a business.  Very artistically done, and free of graffiti.  Lots of these in Taiwan also, but not quite as free of graffiti over there...

China - Chengdu, Streetside Trash Cans

 

China - Chengdu, Colorful Sign

The sign says "I Love Chengdu".  Before visiting here, I was under the impression that a communist government was so oppressive and evil that color was the first thing to go.  Taking a look along streets in East Berlin before the wall came down in 1989, and much of Russia during the same period, will confirm that impression.  But the previous administration here in China really opened up the place, allowing for much more creative use of color in signage such as this.

China - Chengdu, Signage for the "China Characteristic Commercial Street"

Interesting that there's a "Walking Street Committee" over there.  Indicative of the omnipresence of a central government, but gotta say they do a great job of maintaining touristic infrastructure.  These areas are very well patrolled, but not oppressively so.  And very clean - not trashed at all; later on during this trip I took to capturing workers sweeping streets...very discreetly, of course.

China - Chengdu, Geometric Art #2

 

China - Chengdu, Geometric Art #1

Went into a building where there was a small museum space.  These guys caught my eye, not only because of the color, but this type of geometric pattern can be seen in many other art forms in China.  The building below was captured a couple of days after leaving Chengdu, in the city of Chongqing:

China - Chengdu Ear Pickers

One of the more interesting facets of Chinese culture, to me, is this ear picking thing.  A wife will clean her husband's ears as a demonstration of affection.  Chenjean did this for me when we were first married, and I saw this done on Chinese soap operas as a way to convey the stability of a married relationship.  And just as there are business establishments for foot massage, signs for dedicated ear picking establishments can be seen along busy commercial streets.  I would draw the line, however, if it went a little further and did the same thing for noses.

Got closer for the shot below, but felt weird about it, as if I were intruding on a private moment: