The Traces of Flood | Caixin



Chen Liang—Caixin Media

The village of Taitou in central Hebei province was hit hard by flooding in mid-July, following days of heavy rain. Photographer Chen Liang visited after the floodwaters had receded. Mud and dirt covered everything and vegetation and mold on the walls revealed the high-water marks where standing water had leveled off. In one disorienting image, a ceiling fan looks as though it is resting on a tile floor—until the viewer realized that the mud and water marks left from debris had reached the ceiling. While the village may eventually recover, Zhen’s images have the feeling of a Chinese Pompeii.

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The village of Taitou in central Hebei province was hit hard by flooding in mid-July, following days of heavy rain. Photographer Chen Liang visited after the floodwaters had receded. Mud and dirt covered everything and vegetation and mold on the walls revealed the high-water marks where standing water had leveled off. In one disorienting image, a ceiling fan looks as though it is resting on a tile floor—until the viewer realized that the mud and water marks left from debris had reached the ceiling. While the village may eventually recover, Zhen’s images have the feeling of a Chinese Pompeii.