Sugarcane Peking 1985 -

: Walking down a hutong (alleyway) while chewing on a fibrous piece of cane and spitting the pulp into the gutter was a common, everyday sight. 🏙️ Historical Context: A City in Flux

: The city was a "Kingdom of Bicycles." Cars were rare, reserved for high-ranking officials. Sugarcane Peking 1985

: Vendors often used flatbed bicycles or small wooden carts to pile the long, purple-skinned stalks high. : Walking down a hutong (alleyway) while chewing

: The skyline was still low. The ancient city walls were gone, but the high-rise booms of the 90s hadn't yet begun. 🕰️ Why 1985 Matters : The skyline was still low

: The steam from outdoor dumpling stalls mixing with the dry, cold air.

: The sea of blue and grey Mao suits was starting to break. Younger people began wearing "Western-style" colorful down jackets or trench coats.

: Sugarcane symbolized the new connectivity between the tropical South and the frigid North.