crowded

Yantai - south - Crowded apartment "dwellings" in the southern section of the city - The real income of the poorest 10% of China's 1.4 billion people fell by 2.4% in the two years to 2003, an analysis by World Bank economists has found. Meanwhile, average incomes for China's richest rose by more than 16%. The findings challenge the basis of government policies aimed at narrowing the country's politically sensitive wealth gap, which President Hu Jintao has made a centerpiece of his administration's economic policies. The Chinese have understated the extent of poverty by defining it as roughly US$83 in annual income, equal to about 5% of average per capita income. The U.S. definition of poverty is 12% of average per capita income. - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

rusting

Yantai - North - An old biketruck in a stands outside a "Hutong" (Traditional Chinese alley dwelling) in a sunny "nong tang" (alley) on the northern edge of the city - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

red shutters

Yantai - North - On the northern edge of the city an old "European" building circa 1910, with red shutters - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

to the right

Yantai - North - On the northern edge of the city a man walks by an old soon to be demolished "European" building, circa 1900 - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

red door

Yantai - North - In a small backstreet on the northern edge of the city in a desolate courtyard a red door is the only reminder that the building was once an important government office. If you look closely you'll notice that the door is not only locked ut "bricked-up" on the inside - morning
photo: mhobbs

china lace

Yantai - North - In a "nong tang" (alley) on the northern edge of the city lace curtains with a typical Chinese scene of a pagoda and sea shore (as seen in Yantai) in the window of an old residential dwelling - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

arch and entrance

Yantai - Central - On the northern edge of the city in a small backstreet a norrow lane leads to a concealed courtyard of a traditional style home - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

face - old man

Yantai - East - An old man looks off into the far distance, sitting outside a noodle shop in a small 'nong tang' (alley) on the eastern edge of the city - late afternoon
photo: mhobbs

curios

Yantai - Central - Afternoon light falls onto a peeling painted sign on an old building housing an arcade of "Yantai Curio's" in the centre of the city - afternoon
Apologies to the "readers" this site being a "google" product has been blocked for the past month by the 'Central Government - It seems to be unblocked as of today -
photo: mhobbs

chun da 80

Yantai - East - On the eastern edge of the city a sign on a gate to the entrance of an old 'apartment/housing compound is half obscured by a old and peeling red paper "Chinese New Year" strip - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

700

Yantai - East - Old boat on the beach of Bohai Bay - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

A man and his hat

Yantai - Central - An old man sits on a stool by the side of the road in the centre of the city - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

bent

Yantai - An old man walks up a street on the eastern edge of the city - late afternoon
photo: mhobbs

red and white

Yantai - Central - A torn sign above a store in the 'central west' of the city - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

wall

Yantai - An old wall in a side alley in the eastern edge of town - afternoon
photo: mhobbs

peoples arch

Yantai - An old building with an arched entry in a small backstreet on the eastern edge of the city stands deserted and disused - afternoon
photo: mhobbs