The West Bund is not a place I have spent much time in but went I took a shared bike from the metro I was pleasantly surprised at how peaceful and clean it is down there. There is an area of West Bund which is home to a variety of art galleries.
When I was there, most of them were either closed or had not ever opened. However, the one I had come to see was open and after they prized 40rmb out of my sweaty hands, I went in and found there several exhibitions.
One had shots of people on a pedestrian bridge in Guangzhou and acted as a social commentary on the numbers and origins of workers in the city. There were many Africans on display reflecting the huge trade in goods between China and Africa with a huge number of ships at the port bringing and taking people as well as goods. The colours of the African clothes are a welcome change to the drab of the rest of us.
The second exhitibition was all about street photography again in Guangzhou and what a fantastic array of images. Some of them made me laugh out loud – they were fantastic.
If you’re looking for a cheap and culturally rich few hours on the West Bund, take the metro and then walk down towards the water and to this place.
And afterwards, take a stroll along the river back towards the city and you’ll find peaceful green areas with families lying in their tents looking out across the water, children in the skate park, brides posing in the trees, and all sorts of life going on.
I will return when the other art galleries are open when it really will be a great place to hang out.
