23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Drifting Between Two Worlds

The Tanka people are a unique community in Guangdong, China — traditionally living on boats, they are known as the “people of the water.” Today, most of them have moved ashore and embraced modern life, while only a few still hold on to their traditions. In this photo, there is only one boat on the river — on the left lies an old village where some still dock their boats, and on the right stands the city filled with modern buildings. I can’t help but wonder — can the person on that boat still hold onto the ideals of their heart?

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Kaiping, China
Camera: Canon EOS R100
Copyright: © Bruce Yu