A Nocturnal Journey Through Ancient Liuzhou City

December 11, 2025

A Nocturnal Journey Through Ancient Liuzhou City

Our evening began with a deep dive into Liuzhou's historic heart, aiming to capture the city's unique nighttime atmosphere.

The city's ancient heritage was immediately apparent, starting with a photograph that paid silent tribute to its history: a close up of the ancient Liuzhou city wall with a blurry background.

Inside the ancient core, local culture thrived within small shops. I documented several scenes that whispered of tradition: a model of a pagoda building on a table, a whimsical stuffed animal with a blue and white plaid shirt, and a string of fragrant sachets hanging on a shelf. Nearby, antique stalls offered glimpses into the past, featuring a table loaded with a bunch of antique bowls and cups, and another displaying a couple of antique bowls sitting on top of a table.

As the night unfolded, the streets were alive with people and flavor. A crowd of people walking through a street at night gathered near a sign advertising a "One-dollar mousse mini cake." The culinary scene was rich, highlighted by a row of Bo Bo Chicken (a type of Sichuan dish) and a nearby table with a variety of pickled food.

The city's modern vitality shone brightly through its neon signs, which continued the narrative of "Ancient Liuzhou." I captured a vibrant Chinese sign for a restaurant called "Ancient Liuzhou" and another for "Xiao Sixi." Even a simple building with a blue neon sign on the side in the night became dramatic. Other illuminated signs included one with Chinese writing that says "Ancient Liuzhou from 1989" and a more playful orange sign that reads bread on a building with a heart sign.

Outside the historic center, modern life continued under the night sky. Unexpected color came from a man is sitting on a post selling balloons on a parking lot. Modern infrastructure was also in view: a tall building with a sign on the side says "English" in Chinese and the prominent hotel with a sign that says "Liuzhou Grand Hotel" in both Chinese and English. The evening concluded with a crowd of people walking down a street with a neon sign says "Huana Yihe Hotel" in Chinese, leaving the ancient city to its peaceful, neon-dusted rest.

Gears & Settings

Gears & Settings	Figures
Camera	Sony A6700
Lens	Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN
Creative Style	IN
Date	26 July 2024
Location	Liuzhou, Guangxi, China

Downloads

Support my work by downloading images through my shutterstock or Adobe Stock.

Photos

#: 1 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 125 | F: 1.8 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A close up of the ancient Liuzhou city wall with a blurry background

#: 2 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.8 | +/-: -1.3 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A model of a pagoda building on a table

#: 3 | SS: 1/400s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.8 | +/-: -1.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A stuffed animal with a blue and white plaid shirt

#: 4 | SS: 1/60s | ISO: 100 | F: 2.0 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A close up of a string of fragrant sachets hanging on a shelf

#: 5 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.8 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A table with a bunch of antique bowls and cups

#: 6 | SS: 1/160s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.8 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A couple of antique bowls sitting on top of a table

#: 7 | SS: 1/160s | ISO: 50 | F: 1.8 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A crowd of people walking through a street at night says “One-dollar mousse mini cake“ in Chinese

#: 8 | SS: 1/500s | ISO: 50 | F: 1.8 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A row of Bo Bo Chicken (a type of Sichuan dish)

#: 9 | SS: 1/80s | ISO: 50 | F: 2.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A table with a variety of pickled food

#: 10 | SS: 1/500s | ISO: 100 | F: 2.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A neon sign that says the name of a restaurant called “Ancient Liuzhou” in Chinese

#: 11 | SS: 1/500s | ISO: 100 | F: 2.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A neon sign that says a restaurant called “Xiao Sixi” in Chinese

#: 12 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 100 | F: 2.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A building with a blue neon sign on the side in the night

#: 13 | SS: 1/160s | ISO: 100 | F: 2.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A neon sign on a building with chinese writing says “Ancient Liuzhou from 1989”

#: 14 | SS: 1/400s | ISO: 100 | F: 2.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: An orange sign that reads bread on a building with a heart sign

#: 15 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 250 | F: 2.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A man is sitting on a post selling balloons on a parking lot

#: 16 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 200 | F: 2.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A tall building with a sign on the side says “English” in Chinese

#: 17 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 160 | F: 2.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A hotel with a sign that says “Liuzhou Grand Hotel” in both Chinese and English

#: 18 | SS: 1/125s | ISO: 100 | F: 2.0 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A crowd of people walking down a street with a neon sign says “Huana Yihe Hotel” in Chinese