tinker - square # 42

On a busy "nong tang" (alley) on the eastern edge of the city, a shoe repair vendor sits in the bitterly cold wind of the afternoon repairing shoes
photo: mhobbs

hell money - square # 36

A man stands in the doorway of his small store in the centre of the city, in front of a large stack of Ghost festival, or ancestor worship items. The Ghost Festival is a traditional Chinese festival and holiday, which is celebrated by the Chinese. According to the Chinese Lunar (a lunisolar calendar), the Ghost Festival is on the 14th night of the seventh lunar month.(August 8th, 2006) In addition to Hell Bank Notes or Afterlife Money; (fake money) some Chinese stores also sell elaborately-made and multi-coloured paper watches, clothes, cars, Hell Credit Cards, and even refrigerators for the purpose of burning in the belief that doing so sends their essence to the afterlife world, where the recipient will be glad to receive such material goods. Other activities include, burying and releasing miniature paper boats and lanterns on water, which signifies "giving directions to the lost ghosts. A very solemn festival, the festival nevertheless represents a connection between the living and the dead, earth and heaven, as well as body and soul.
photo: mhobbs

sultan - square # 33

Yantai - Central - A Muslum sultana vendor, shows off his wares on a busy street in the centre of the city - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

sisters fruit and vegetables - square # 31

Yantai - East - A woman stands behind the counter of her small 'shop', in a narrow 'nong tang' (alley) , the sign reads "sisters fruit and vegetables" - night photo: mhobbs

lunch #2 square #29

Yantai - A man has lunch on the corner of a small backstreet, on the northern edge of the city - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

meat on sticks - square # 26

Yantai - Central - Three Muslim men at their small stall/restaurant that specializes in 'meat on sticks' roasted over coals, near the entrance to a large supermarket in the centre of the city - late afternoon
photo: mhobbs

vegetable vendor - square # 22

Yantai - Central - A man serves a customer from his 'biketruck' vegetable stall in a courtyard in the centre of the city - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

holding the bowl - square # 20

Yantai - East - A street vendor chats with a customer (who is eating a bowl of noodles) in a small backstreet on the eastern edge of the city - afternoon
photo: mhobbs