Mountain dwellers, large lake become lasting China memories

My name is Jordan Schiele and I am so glad to share these very happy memories from China!

QinghaiHu: Qinghai Lake, or "The Teal Sea," is the largest lake in China. In March of 2015, I traveled there with friends who live in Qinghai's provincial capital, Xinning, to witness an extraordinary migration of birds that flock to the lake in March when the water is still frozen. Although many visitors choose to explore Qinghai Lake during the summer, when the flowers are in bloom, we felt it was quite magical to visit in the winter when the vastness of the landscape surrounding the lake and the birds swopping over us gave a sense of majesty. Pictured in the photo is one of the first people I met in China who later collaborated with me on a film.

Guangxi: There are several minority groups within China that live in the mountains, and I had the chance to meet a local group of women whose clothing and customs are distinctive and unique to a village in Guangxi. They had never met a foreigner before, and it was a chance encounter that left me with very warm memories of visiting the south of China.

BeijingYangtui: It is popular in the spring to eat outside in Beijing when the weather warms up. In this photo, I am enjoying a local specialty - "yangtui," an entire leg of lamb that is roasted on the sidewalk. Of course, we shared a few local Yangjing beers!