Photographer snaps 600,000 photos in Tiananmen Square over 38 years

A photographer named Gao Yuan has captured more than 600,000 photos for his clients in Tiananmen Square over the past 38 years. Every photo has its own story, and the photos themselves, if placed side by side, could circle the square three times.

Gao told Thepaper.cn that his booth has never moved in the 38 years he has been operating it. Though visitors these days don’t pay as much attention to photographers as they used to, Gao noted that some still take his service quite seriously.

The photographer posted a message on Weibo several months ago, hoping to find some customers who haven’t yet claimed their photos from him.

The three Bouyei women dressed themselves very carefully before taking the picture, which was fairly solemn, said Gao.

A veteran who had fought in the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression had his photo taken in front of Tiananmen in a wheelchair.