Huangyao, China 2013

Huang Yao, China or as others refer to the town as a walk in the "Garden of Dreams." Huangyao is situated in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on the lower reaches of Li River. The town owes its name to the Huang and Yao family clans who founded the village during the Song dynasty, nine centuries ago. Like most ancient villages in southwest China it further developed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and flourished during the Qing (1644-1911). The eight main slab-stone streets paved during the reign of Shunzhi of the Qing dynasty, are lined with all the classical architectural features of ancient Chinese temples and shrines that harbors elaborate elements carved in stone and well-preserved centuries-old stone houses. It is said that the structure of the village invokes the bagua (八卦) or eight trigram of the Taoist cosmology. The director of "the painted veil", John Curran did not want to build a set for the cholera-stricken village needed for the movie; instead, seeking out an untouched parcel of land in China, he found Huang Yao Ancient Town (黄姚古镇) which served as the location for the village. The director said about the location, "Even the Chinese crew members were amazed at the place we found... It was like going back in time." Available as 8 x 11 or 11 x 17 b & w or color photo or water color print, and each photograph or print are personally approved and hand-signed by the artist, dr. ralph goldman