Selected photos from China

Photographer: Kevin O'Neil

Taken in 1997-1998

The 48 hour train ride from GuangZhou to KunMing wound through many beautiful mountains, where small farms and picturesque rural villages endlessly passed by. Smoking was allowed on the train. In the mornings, about sunrise, the blaring speakers would spout an hour or so of cheery Communist rhetoric and music. "Good morning comrades! Don't forget to brush your teeth before eating rice and obeying today!"

In the rural town of Dali, this funeral procession marched down one of the main streets. Many people were wearing the traditional white head wrappings, but I had never seen nor heard of white polka-dots on a red cloth as a casket cover. Fly agaric, anyone?

Having journeyed up the mountainside to the local temple, we had some tea overlooking the town and the lake.

Dali is noted for its traditional architecture, which ranged from thatched roofs and stone houses to this elaborate style.

Some more traditional architecture. I'm sure the locals would like some modernization, but tourists enjoy the ancient look.

This small, abandoned house had quite a view. A little landscaping, and it could be a trendy bed'n'breakfast!

This stone engraving of a Daoist master was in a temple in KunMing

Wild hemp was plentiful in the Yun Nan province. It was commonly said that there is a heroin problem in this southern province, near the borders of Burma and Laos, but there was apparently no concern about Cannabis. Probably only minority groups and Western tourists found it of interest.

There's not much to say about this happy little girl skipping her way down the cobblestone streets in traditional garb except "how cute!"

Perhaps this is the little girl in yellow's house, same as her mother, grandmother, etc.

The men's room at my plush guest-house. After seeing this picture, my father swore he'd never go to China. Too bad I didn't get any pictures of the rats.