18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Man in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter

This photo shows a man – presumably Muslim -- in an open-air market on a street in the Muslim Quarter of Xi’an, China. My family was exploring the market when I spotted the man. His glance skyward gives me the impression that he’s looking for God -- or Allah. Our visit to the market occurred during a two-week trip to explore China, my daughter’s birthplace. It was the first time we’d returned to China since we'd adopted her. Xi'an is a city of 12 million people in central China.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2020
Photo Location: Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
Camera: ILCE-6000
Copyright: © Elliot Grossman