A French woman's story in Pingyao

Bai Meixian and her photography. [Photo/Xinhua]

Though using a Chinese name, Bai Meixian is actually a French woman who came to China early in 1982 as an overseas student studying in Beijing. But it wasn't until 2006 that her story with the Ancient City of Pingyao in Shanxi province was unveiled.

Bai went to Pingyao initially for the Pingyao International Photography Festival, a grand photography event held annually in the ancient city. Since then, she has travelled to Pingyao many times.

Whether it was an old man selling vegetables at the street corner, a female hairdresser in a litter barber shop, or a sedan-chair bearer in ancient costume, Bai was attracted by the ordinary people in the city during each Pingyao trip. She has taken many photos of them.

"They (the Pingyao residents) smiled to me when I took photos of them. They were friendly even if they refused to take a photo sometimes," Bai said.

She is a big fan of the Pingyao International Photography Festival. As an audience member, she has been to this festival several times. Finally in 2014, for the first time she participated in the event as a photographer, with her photography depicting the ordinary local people of Pingyao.

Furthermore, Bai hoped to present the exhibited photos to the people in her works. "I just want to give the photos to these kind-hearted people," she explained.

More than 120 Pingyao locals have been captured in her photography, and she has contacted over half of them. Through photography, she has become friends with many Pingyao people. Occasionally, some of her local friends will invite her to shoot an event she is interested in.

The Ancient City of Pingyao is full of vigor for its people still living there. If they left, this ancient city may excessive commercialization. "The people in my photos persist in living in the ancient city; they make the city alive. They are brave," she said.

Moreover, though she lived in China for over 30 years and traveled a lot across this country, she loves Pingyao the most. She jokingly said she was perhaps a Pingyao resident in her previous life.