along the sidewalk...
The following images were captured in the vicinity of Taoranting Park, Xuanwu District, Beijing, during the Spring Festival 2012 holiday.
These posters and banners dotted the walking route from a bus stop on Caishikou Street to the park, the site of a popular spring festival miaohui (temple party). Singularly they each reflect the efforts of varied producers to promote official messaging. In concert they perform a network of symbols that reinforce such messaging to the passer-by at regular intervals along the short pedestrian journey from bus stop to park.
TITLE
Legally, courteously and safely set-off fireworks; heritage promtes Beijing Spirit (Yifa, wenming, anquan ranfang, chuancheng hongyang Beijing jingshen)
CONTEXT
Slung under ground floor windows of residential building facing sidewalk at foot of pedestrian overpass, west side of Caishikou Street, south of Yaojiajing 2nd Alley (vicinity of red marker on map). February 2012.
DESCRIPTION
White character on red linen banner.
TITLE
Build a national civilized district, construct a beautiful homeland in Xicheng (Chuangjian quanguo wenming chengqu, jianshe xicheng meihao jiayuan)
CONTEXT
On rendered brick construction site wall set back from sidewalk and bus stop, east side of Caishikou Street, south of Yaojiajing 2nd Alley (vicinity of red marker on map). February 2012.
DESCRIPTION
Soft synthetic billboard produced by Taoranting neighbourhood committee propaganda office.
TITLE
Build a national civilized district, create a harmonious and beautiful Xicheng (Chuangjian quanguo wenming chengqu, goujian hexie meihao xicheng)
CONTEXT
On rendered brick construction site wall set back from sidewalk and bus stop, east side of Caishikou Street, south of Yaojiajing 2nd Alley (vicinity of red marker on map). February 2012.
DESCRIPTION
Soft synthetic billboard produced by Taoranting neighbourhood committee propaganda office.
TITLE
Build a national civilized district, create a harmonious and beautiful Xicheng (Chuangjian quanguo wenming chengqu, goujian hexie meihao xicheng)
CONTEXT
On temporary wall of Taoranting subway station (Line 4) construction site, southeast corner of Caishikou Street and Taoranting Road. February 2012.
DESCRIPTION
Soft synthetic billboard produced by Taoranting neighbourhood committee propaganda office.
TITLE
Build a national civilized district, create a harmonious and beautiful Xicheng (Chuangjian quanguo wenming chengqu, goujian hexie meihao xicheng)
CONTEXT
On temporary wall of Taoranting subway station (Line 4) construction site, southeast corner of Caishikou Street and Taoranting Road. February 2012.
DESCRIPTION
Soft synthetic billboard produced by Taoranting neighbourhood committee propaganda office.
TITLE
Build a civilized Xicheng, create a beautiful life (Gongjian wenming xicheng, gongting meihao shenghuo)
CONTEXT
Soft synthetic banner displayed on wall of Taoranting metro (Line 4) construction site, southeast corner of Caishikou Street and Taoranting Road. February 2012.
DESCRIPTION
Soft synthetic billboard produced by Taoranting neighbourhood committee propaganda office.
TITLE
Capital City Residents Civilization Compact (Shoudu shimin wenming gongyue)
CONTEXT
In glassed poster box outside the Taoran Jiangting Fishes and Flower Market, near intersection of Longzhuahuai Alley and Yaojiajing 2nd Alley (vicinity of blue marker on map). February 2012.
DESCRIPTION
Poster produced by Taoran Jiangting Fishes and Flower Market. The Capital City Rsidents Civilization Compact is reproduced in posters - such as this one - around Beijing. Civilization compacts are a feature of localities across China, and contemporary compacts draw a lineage back to village compacts (xiangyue) of the pre-modern era. This particular compact dates back to Jiang Zemin's presidency.
The compact lists 36 items in nine groupings of four, including (among other things): love of the motherland and Beijing, love of labour, beautification of the city, looking after public property, stressing hygeine, protecting the environment, worshipping science, raising quality, healthy living, family planning, showing courtesy to visitors and respecting women.
TITLE
Consciously abide by the market's rules... (Zijue zunshou shichang guiding...)
CONTEXT
Rivetted to the facade of the Taoran Jiangting Fishes and Flower Market, near intersection of Longzhuahuai Alley and Yaojiajing 2nd Alley (vicinity of blue marker on map). February 2012.
DESCRIPTION
Rigid board likely to have been produced by the Taoran Jiangting Fishes and Flower Market management.
TITLE
Practice Beijing spirit, be civilized, polite Beijingers (jianxing beijing jingshen, zuo wenming youlide beijingren)
CONTEXT
Slung between trees lining a path vicinity of Shuangting in Taoranting Park (vicinity of purple marker on map). February 2012.
DESCRIPTION
White character on red linen banner.
