A kind of primitive grandeur greets visitors from the river.

The gateway from the river is also a landmark on what once must have been a little square, but is now just left over space.

For a rural village, the buildings were remarkably well built.

There is rich ornament and a strong sense of style, though much of the detail is crumbling.

Abandoned home that once housed a wealthy family.

Sweet, evocative streets

Many passages are just muddy lanes--as they might have always been.

Some houses are freshly plastered and relatively well maintained.

Rich patina of time.

Details that indicate status of original residents.

Faded slogans from the Cultural Revolution

Evidence of ancient farm practices still alive and well.

Gaggles of farm animals.

Ubiquitous rural chickens

Elegance and exquisite craft in some of the courtyards

Though deteriorated, some of the interior spaces are quite grand. Mao still rules out here.

Though the domestic life seems very basic and rudimentary, the TV is always in the background.

Will this kid stay in his village after a childhood filled with the outside world via electronic media?

Remarkably, the current generation did make the decision to stay even in the midst of massive urbanization in China.

Even though life on the river is still completely dependent on the traditional river raft, it might be made of PVC pipe today rather than of bamboo. Time marches on.