Students snap villagers to record rural lives

Team from Peking University spent summer days in makeshift studio taking shots to aid local residents. Zou Shuo reports.

This summer, during a social practice trip to Northwest China's Shaanxi province, 14 students from Peking University's School of Journalism and Communication took portrait photos of the residents of an isolated village.

They took the photos in a makeshift studio they had constructed in the village committee's building. The villagers, holding baskets of dates, freshly-picked watermelons or farming tools, smiled as they presented their simple yet fruitful lives in front of the cameras.

Some sat next to their spouses or grandchildren to pose for a warm, adoring family photo.

Tucked away in the northeast of Shaanxi, Nihegou village lies on the banks of the Yellow River and boasts a long history and a rich culture. Known for its red dates, it is home to some 200 people and the average age is 64.

Zhang Yunling, a graduate student from the school, said most of the villagers are seniors, as the young people work in nearby counties and cities.

"They were very hospitable to us and very happy to see us," she said.

Taking portrait photos of the seniors in the village was something the students had thought about doing since the 14-strong team was formed, and they hoped they could do something meaningful for the villagers.