American cycling photographer Peter Crosby - 27 Years Later

[Randy W]

US photographer captures changes during 3,000-km tour after 27 years

Cycling China

By Global Times
Published: Oct 07, 2021 06:13 PM

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An eight-episode documentary series Peter Crosby's Biketour to China, which has been aired on streaming platform Xigua Video premiering on September 29, follows his tour witnessing and capturing the tremendous changes and development taken place in China in the last nearly three decades. 

In 1994, he took an over 3,000-kilometer bike ride from Beijing to Hong Kong, through provinces including Shanxi, Hubei, Hunan and Guangdong, during which he took 19,400 photos and 80-hour-long video. 

According to a Xinhua report, Crosby recalled that the Chinese people who appeared before the lens of his camera in 1994 were the most vivid memories of the experience. "It's amazing to see all those people who let us film and photograph them so up-close and very personally."

It had been a dream for him to be back to China for a second trip, which he was waiting for until 2021. Crosby spent two months on the trip crossing the country in the series produced by Xigua Video, Yunji Media and China Intercontinental Communication Center. 

Due to the changes to China's network of roads, the route follows 80 percent of the old route and 20 percent of the new that "Peter Crosby is interested in," according to the documentary series' director Li Jiameng, adding that Crosby kept daily over 10-kilometer riding exercise for the bike tour in the US. 

From Beijing Film Academy to Shaolin Temple in Central China's Henan Province, he re-visited these sites and reunited with some old friends. "In order to meet the tight schedule, he had to ride at least four hours every day, which was a challenge," Li told the media. 

The documentary series also includes the old videos that Crosby took in 1990s allowing more people to see the changes taken place. Zhang Xin from Xigua Video said that the series not only presents the dream of Peter Crosby, but also brings international audiences a chance to truly know China and the great changes. 

 

Peter Crosby's Bike Tour to China - Story of China witnessed by an American Cyclist (Trailer)

 

1美国骑行摄影师，27年后再次来到中国American cycling photographer, came to China again 27years later to witness China