For 27 years, Wang Zhonggang has been policing the streets of his hometown as a public security officer. In his spare time, he’s been photographing them, too.

During lunch breaks, after work, and on weekends, the 48-year-old can often be found roaming with his camera in urban and rural parts of Fengcheng, a city of about 445,000 people in China’s northeastern Liaoning province.

He considers taking pictures as fundamental to his daily routine as eating and sleeping. “To me, photography is a lot like handling a gun,” he says. “It takes a steady hand and an even steadier mind. The more you do it, the smoother it becomes.”

In the past decade, Wang has taken more than 100,000 photos, building a personal visual archive of his city. Here, he speaks to Jiemian News about how his professional background has influenced his art.

Jiemian News: When did you start taking photographs?

Wang: I was initially influenced by a colleague who was into photography. I found it a great way to relieve stress, and I soon became hooked. Back in the police academy, we had a forensic photography course, so I had some basic training. But as I spent more time behind the lens, I realized that I wasn’t drawn to overly staged shots or spectacular landscapes. Instead, I found myself fascinated by familiar, everyday scenes — perhaps because of my job. I’m always interested in ordinary people’s lives. What started as an effort to capture amusing moments gradually became a habit. Now, photography is just part of my life. If I see a scene that speaks to me and I don’t photograph it, I feel uneasy.

Jiemian News: How do you feel about Fengcheng?

Wang: It’s a peaceful, comfortable place to live. Fengcheng is a county-level city under the administration of Dandong in Liaoning. It used to be the Fengcheng Manchu Autonomous County, and it has enjoyed some glory days. The scenery is picturesque — Phoenix Mountain, part of the Changbai Mountains, is a renowned peak. We’re close to the Yalu River and the Yellow Sea, so we enjoy both mountain delicacies and seafood. Fengcheng also has rich mineral resources and used to be a major production base for auto parts. We were once recognized as an “advanced county for sports,” and we’re especially known for our basketball talent. There’s a lot to be proud of here. Personally, I think it’s an ideal place to retire.

Jiemian News: What changes have you observed over the years?

Wang: Fengcheng used to have old city walls and narrow alleyways, but urban development has erased many of those historical elements. This loss mirrors broader trends in the development of northeastern China, including Heilongjiang, Liaoning, and Jilin provinces. I believe county-level cities best reflect the real lives of ordinary Chinese people. Unlike big cities where commuting takes an hour or two, in small cities, you can run errands in 10 minutes. The rhythm of daily life profoundly influences how people feel and live.

Jiemian News: Many of your photos are of rural scenes. What draws you to the countryside?

Wang: Fengcheng administers 21 towns, townships, and subdistricts — 19 of them are rural. I used to work at a rural police station, so I’m very familiar with the surrounding areas. Life in the countryside moves at a slower pace, and weekend markets bring a unique charm that I really enjoy. Whenever I have time, I like to visit these rural places. But things are changing. With the rise of the internet economy, people in the countryside have started shopping online, and traditional markets are gradually fading because of declining sales. People’s shopping habits have shifted along with evolving consumption concepts.

While the government is focusing on strengthening county-level urban development, rural areas are increasingly characterized by elderly empty-nesters and vacant houses. Some farmland lies abandoned because there simply aren’t enough people to work it. These days, young people leave home to work in big cities. They’ve lost touch with farming — they neither learn it nor want to. The population drain is serious across the whole of the northeast. That’s why I feel a strong urge to document these transitions.

Jiemian News: Does your work as a police officer help or hinder your photography?

Wang: It helps mostly. I’ve worked in local police stations and served as a station chief, so I’ve gained a lot of experience in community work. My job put me in constant contact with residents, and over time I developed a deep, genuine connection with them. In the early days, I was too intrusive with my photography — I’d sometimes point my camera directly at people, and understandably, some felt uncomfortable. Now I’ve adjusted my approach: I rarely shoot close-ups anymore. Instead, I use a telephoto lens to quietly capture scenes from a distance. Often, people don’t even notice when I’ve taken their photo.

Jiemian News: Do you think your police background makes you more observant as a photographer, able to catch details others would miss?

Wang: Yes, I pay great attention to details. When I go out shooting with friends, I often find myself drawn to completely different subjects. Being observant is key for a police officer, and it naturally carries into my photography. Some moments might pass unnoticed by others, but I spot and capture them. Maybe my perspective seems unusual, but that instinct comes from my training and experience in the police force.

Jiemian News: Has taking photos become muscle memory for you?

Wang: Yes, it really has. It’s a subtle process. Photography is similar to shooting a gun — how you lift it, hold it steady, and apply the right pressure to the trigger. It all requires control and calmness. If your hands are shaky or your mind is distracted, you’ll miss the perfect shot.

I visit rural markets about a dozen times a year, and every visit feels different. Even the same stall can offer a completely new experience depending on the day. I often get asked why I keep going back to the same places. But for me, every visit brings fresh faces, new emotions, and unrepeatable moments. You can’t plan for these things — you just have to be there, ready to capture them when they happen.

Reported by Li Xiang.

A version of this article originally appeared in Jiemian News. It has been translated and edited for brevity and clarity, and is republished here with permission.

Translator: Chen Yue; visuals: Ding Yining; editors: Wang Juyi and Hao Qibao.

(Header image: Stilt performers walk past cattle in the Harqin Left Wing Mongolian Autonomous County, Liaoning province, Feb. 10, 2025. Courtesy of Wang Zhonggang)