Communist Poster Vendor

Communist Poster Vendor
Originally uploaded by JW.

We drove to Beihai Lake which lies to the west of the vast Imperial Palace at the centre of Beijing. Here, on a Friday evening, we discovered crowds of mainly middle-aged Chinese waltzing on a paved patio beside the lake.

Along the lake front are a string of themed bars where young people sit outside at tables drinking cocktails or beer. Small shops sell weird and brightly coloured tourist knick-knacks.

Behind the hectic waterfront with its bright lights are quieter streets where I discovered this snack bar selling posters from another era.