Pole captures changing China through lens

It's hard for Janek Zdzarski to recall his first impression of China, even though it was only 11 years ago.

The 33-year-old Polish photographer has worked in the country almost every year since, and the main thing he recognizes is that it is changing so fast.

"The first time, I took pictures of a hutong. When I came back, it was gone," the Polsat TV correspondent said. "I get first impressions about China every day."

Dorota Jasik (right), a teacher from Poland working at Liaocheng University in Shandong province, learns to play legendary female warrior Hua Mulan in Yuju Opera in Liaocheng in March. Dong Guangqiang / for China Daily

But after living in China for the past six years, Zdzarski has come to appreciate the changes. For him, they represent the "uniqueness" of today's China.

"Everything is changing here. You cannot find the past and the future, but only the present in this country," he said. "Beijing is just like the Polish capital Warsaw in the 1950s when it was rebuilt after World War II and filled with migrants from across the nation."

Zdzarski has published a 500-page photo album in Poland about China and there will be an exhibition of his work in Beijing next month.

"Living in such cities is not easy, but I think both Chinese and Polish people are forward-looking and believe in a promising future," he said.

Zdzarski himself believes there should be more interaction between Chinese and Polish people, adding that Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski's visit to China in December had greatly advanced mutual understanding.

"We opened our eyes to China, not just to a big economy or a huge population, but also to some small and interesting things that both countries share," he said.

Although Poland was the first European country to sign a cultural cooperation agreement with China in 1953, Polish Ambassador to China Tadeusz Chomicki said those Chinese who are fascinated by European culture have long focused on countries with stronger economies, such as Germany and France, which have much more money to promote their culture.

"But relations between China and Poland are developing in the right direction," the ambassador said, adding that Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Poland, and the Euro 2012 football championship, hosted by Poland and Ukraine in June, will be platforms to attract tourism and investment.

The ambassador said a Center for Polish Studies would be opened in Beijing soon.

Maciej Gaca, cultural consul at the Polish embassy in Beijing, said Poland had been working on transportation and accommodation to welcome Chinese visitors during the soccer tournament.

Also, a direct flight between Warsaw and Beijing will start operating on May 29. A delegation of Polish businessmen and officials from the Ministry of Economy will be on board to mark the inaugural flight.

Contact the writer at zhaoshengnan@chinadaily.com.cn