Video

Portrait of a Beijinger: Raise the Red Flag

A car collector builds an empire of Communist relics – Tom Fearon

In the final episode of the four-part series ‘Portrait of a Beijinger,’ Tom Fearon and Abel Blanco profile Luo Wenyou, a classic car enthusiast who leaves the civil service in his rear-view mirror, instead collecting the classic “Red Flag” cars that were the stalwart of Communist officials. The video is on Youku for streamers in China, and on Vimeo as embedded below. Keep reading for Tom’s essay about Luo.

Video

Portrait of a Beijinger: Call of Duty

An amateur collects war relics in his bunker – Tom Fearon

In this second episode of the four-part series ‘Portrait of a Beijinger,’ Tom Fearon and Abel Blanco profile Yang Guoqing, a deli owner who sweeps for war relics in the mountains near Beijing. The video is viewable on Youku for streamers in China, and on Vimeo as embedded below. Keep reading for Tom’s essay on meeting Yang, and why he is so fascinated by wartime China.

Video

Portrait of a Beijinger: Beneath the Makeup

A Peking Opera singer takes off his mask – Tom Fearon

Editor’s note: Portrait of a Beijinger is a four-part video series by Tom Fearon and Abel Blanco, profiling a different and unusual character from the streets of Beijing. In this first episode of the series, Tom meets Peking Opera singer Liu Xinran, and describes the encounter in his own words below. The video is viewable on Youku for streamers in China, and on Vimeo.

Portrait of a Beijinger 北京人的肖像 - Beneath the Makeup 脸谱之下 from Abel Blanco on Vimeo.