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 |