Jingzhou City, South Gate

Jingzhou City is said to be one of China’s best-preserved ancient cities, dating back to the Warring States period, with its existing walls standing for 350 years—the most intact city relic in southern China. Unlike other cities turned into gated tourist sites, Jingzhou’s residents still bustle through its gate passages. 

This recording, captured in the South Gate’s barbican during the morning traffic peak, hums with people and vehicles. Different from the past are the cars and shoes on the stone path; similar are the local dialect accents; unchanged is the echo within the barbican.

Recorded by Digimonk.