Contemporary landscape of Haihe River in central Tianjin. [Photo by Bruce Connolly/chinadaily.com.cn]

An attraction of the Shangri-La, where my photo work was exhibited, is that it rises 32 floors above the Haihe River. Night and day, regardless of season, this proved advantageous. It formed an excellent location point for extensively photographing the city whilst looking down across the nearby former British and French Legation Quarters.

A short walk across Baoding Bridge leads to Jiefang North Road. It runs north towards Jiefang Bridge. Dating from 1927, this steel structured movable bridge has become one of the city's historic icons. Particularly in the evening it can be a sheer delight to walk through this unique area. With a history going back to the 1860's, it became known as the 'Oriental Wall Street' for it was the major location in China of many international banks occupying grand, often classical style buildings. Most structures remain, having been carefully restored and splendidly illuminated. After summer evening rains it can be particularly beautiful to walk there with architecture and colours reflecting on its wet road surface.