Capturing Liuzhou's Industrial Echoes: A Photo JourneyIntroduction

December 15, 2025

Capturing Liuzhou's Industrial Echoes: A Photo JourneyIntroduction

The photographic narrative captures the industrial history of Liuzhou, Guangxi, China, following a visit to the Liuzhou Industrial Museum on July 27, 2024. Shot with a Sony A6700 and a Sigma 56mm F1.4 lens, the collection visually documents the city's manufacturing past, machinery, and cultural legacy.

The Heart of Production

The journey began with the powerful symbols of industry, notably a close-up of a massive red metal gear. Transportation was highlighted, from a sign indicating a "Charcoal-powered vehicle" (in Chinese) to a red "Harvest Model 50" (in Chinese) tractor, acknowledging agriculture's contribution. Precision manufacturing tools were documented, including a close-up of a lathe with a handle, and smaller but vital components like a green electric motor labeled "Baise" (in Chinese). The community's broader life was also glimpsed through a townscape model and a flag bearing the Chinese word for "Medicine."

Footprint of Scale and Labor

The sheer volume of output was evidenced by a row of blue engine hoods, standing like silent sentinels. A second lathe connected the work to the political climate, bearing a sign with "Quotations from Chairman Mao" (in Chinese). The vehicles themselves bore the marks of their working lives: a rusted metal repair patch on a close-up of a tire, a detailed wheel of an old green truck, and the manual, rugged controls—an old car steering wheel and a shift lever—that defined their operation. An image of a machine gun with a red handle further emphasized the nature of manual control.

From Factory to Home

The focus transitioned to the domestic life of the era. Everyday technology was captured in a row of old washing machines, a blue fan on a table, and a light blue vintage car. The collection culminated in a depiction of 1980s Chinese life: a typical living room complete with a TV, a fan, and the Chinese character for "Xi" (Happiness) on the wall. The final image, a white, rusted washing machine resting on the floor, served as a quiet, simple artifact representing the passage of time.

Gears & Settings

Gears & Settings	Figures
Camera	Sony A6700
Lens	Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN
Creative Style	IN
Date	27 July 2024
Location	Liuzhou, Guangxi, China

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#: 1 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 400 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A close up of a huge red metal gear

#: 2 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 125 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A sign on a car says “Charcoal-powered vehicle” in Chinese

#: 3 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 1250 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A model of a town with a lot of houses in the night and a flag says “Medicine” in Chinese

#: 4 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 160 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A close up of a lathe with a handle

#: 5 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 160 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A red tractor with a sign on the front says “Harvest Model 50” in Chinese

#: 6 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 320 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A close up of a green electric motor with a sign says “Baise” in Chinese

#: 7 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 250 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A row of blue engine hoods

#: 8 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 125 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A sign on a lathe that says “Quotations from Chairman Mao” in Chinese

#: 9 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 320 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A close up of a tire with a rusted metal repair patch

#: 10 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 320 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A close up of the wheel of an old green truck

#: 11 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 125 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A machine gun with a red handle

#: 12 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 125 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A close up of an old car steering

#: 13 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 125 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A close up of a manual shift lever

#: 14 | SS: 1/50s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A row of old washing machines

#: 15 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 125 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: An old fan in blue color on a table

#: 16 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A vintage car in light blue

#: 17 | SS: 1/30s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 84mm | Caption: A typical living room in the 80’s of Ch with a fan, a TV and a Chinese word “Xi (Happiness)” on the wall