Photographer keeps focus on city's garbage

Four hundred spots are marked on a map of Beijing. "They are the garbage heaps created by people living in Beijing," said photographer Wang Jiuliang, who instead of using his camera to photograph the city's magnificent skyscrapers, fancy restaurants and luxury hotels, turns his lens on the tons of rubbish produced by the city.

The 33-year-old freelance photographer won the gold award for Outstanding Artist of the Year at the 2009 Lianzhou International Photography Festival, but said, "I don't want the award to bring honor to myself, I would rather society realizes the fact that we are living in a city surrounded by trash. I want to raise environmental awareness in every citizen's mind. That would be the best prize for my work."

Wang was born in Anqiu, Shandong province, in 1976. While other boys were playing games in front of his yard, he was reading the history of Chinese philosophy. "I couldn't understand all of them at that time, but I really enjoyed reading them," he said.