Morning Light over Qingxi and Flashes of Feathers

January 10, 2026

Morning Light over Qingxi and Flashes of Feathers

One sunny morning, I woke up early and captured the awakening of Qingxi Town with my lens.

Morning Light and Shadows

A golden sun slowly rose over the eastern mountains. The small town, still at the boundary of light and shadow, was bathed in a soft glow.

Walking along the main road of the Qingxi River towards the town center, the color of the sky changed from golden-red to a faint blue as the sun climbed higher. The river flow was minimal, and large areas of the riverbed were overgrown with weeds.

Looking up to the west, a bright moon hung high in the clear blue sky, with a pine tree blushing red in the foreground.

Feathers in the Frame

A Long-tailed Shrike perched on the top of the pine tree, foraging, perfectly framing the moon in the background.

Continuing along the riverbank towards the town center, I spotted a European Stonechat on the tip of a branch.

Changing the angle, this European Stonechat presented a different pose against the clear blue sky.

I used the European Stonechat as the foreground for a moon-themed photo.

Moving closer and shooting from a low angle, I captured a final close-up of this European Stonechat.

Urban Imprints and Moonlight Through the Grass

Along the river, I photographed the town's cluster of high-rise buildings. A bridge was in the center of the frame, with stepping stones for pedestrians in the foreground.

I noticed a clump of Setaria viridis (green foxtail grass) swaying by the riverbank, so I used the moon as a backdrop to capture this scene.

With the same foxtail grass, I adjusted the angle this time, letting the moon appear faintly through the grass.

Changing the angle again, I positioned the moon to appear perfectly in a gap between the blades of foxtail grass.

Focusing once more on the foxtail grass and the moon, I let the moonlight dance among the leaves.

Looking back, there were also towering residential buildings behind me, so I took a picture of them as well.

Street Corner Colors and the Moon under the Banyan Tree

On the wall of a factory, I discovered red and green Virginia Creeper. Red glazed tiles topped the wall, contrasting with the azure sky.

In a corner of Qingxi Park, I photographed the moon again, with a lush Banyan tree in the foreground.

Just below the moon was Qingxi Hospital, with the two red cross signs on the rooftop clearly visible.

Town Center

Finally, I arrived at the Town Government Center, where a giant stone sculpture engraved with "Serve the People" stood, with the solemn government office building in the background.