1960: Born in Taipei County

1980: Graduated from Fuhsing School of Fine Arts

1987: Started photography expeditions in mainland China

1990: Won Grand Prize from the Independence Evening Post for a news photo story; won the Government Information Office's "Gold Tripod Award" for best magazine photography

1992: Won Grand Prize at the ROC international photographic art contest "Image and Time"

[Picture Caption]

p.117

Tibetans, Zhongdian County, Yunnan

In Zhongdian, Yunnan, the Tibetans celebrate the arrival of summer in the fifth month of the lunar calendar. But unlike the Han Chinese, they do not eat tsungtzu or race dragon boats. Instead, they race horses to amuse themselves. On that day the Tibetans in this area all climb aboard the main local means of transportation--"Liberation" cargo trucks -- to travel en masse to the celebration.

p.118

Derung ladies, Derung River, Gongshan County, Yunnan

Places as remote as the Derung lands are extremely rare in the modern world. Squeezed between two precipitous peaks, the Derung River allows for only two modes of crossing--treading a bridge of rattan and cable, or sliding along a rope.

p.119

Tujia people, Badong County, Hubei

The pannier is an inextricable part of the Tujia lifestyle. Whether buying vegetables, transporting goods, carting children, or even taking a sick person to the doctor, the pannier is an indispensable tool.

p.120

Yi people, Jinyang County, Sichuan

"Chargen" are the typical clothing of the Yi in the Liangshan area. They serve a large number of purposes, such as protection from cold and rain, and they work especially well as blankets during the night.

p.121

Dai ladies, Xinping County, Yunnan

Commonly called the "colorful-belted Dai," the Daiya are a distant branch of the Dai, descendants of aristocrats. In old times, their clothing was extremely ornate and colorful. To dress in full attire can take as long as one or two hours.

p.122

Lisu people, Liuku, Yunnan

The spring festival is the Lisu people's once-a-year bathing ceremony. At the appointed time, whole families of Lisu in the Nujiang area, little children and all, happily travel long distances, rushing off to the hotsprings north of Liuku City for a joyful gathering.

p.123

Hmong people, Leishan County, Guizhou

During every festival, the young Hmong girls dress in beautiful attire, often the only form of wealth their families possess. These costumes (made partly of silver) can weigh as much as 10 kilograms. When the young women leave their houses, their mothers carry the costumes on shoulder poles to the edge of town, where they put them on and proceed to the celebration.

p.124

Hani lady, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan

The Akha, distantly related to the Hani, live principally in Xishuangbanna. Many of their communities still retain ancient weaving traditions. To complete one piece of clothing may require several months of work.

p.125

A "wind and rain" bridge of the Dong people, Sanjiang County, Guangxi

Shielding out the inclement forces of nature and providing a rest for the weary traveler, the "wind and rain" bridge of the Dong people is a classic of minority a rchitecture. Sanjiang County is where a great many of these bridges can be found. The picture shows the "Blessed Wind and Rain Bridge" in Pingliu Village, Dudong Township, Sanjiang County.

(photos and text by Lin Tian-fu/tr. by Brent Heinrich)