Xi’an is one of the oldest cities in China, and one where its history is potent and thickly infused into the city’s culture and infrastructures. One of the four great ancient capitals of China, and one end of the Silkroad, it is famed for its Terra Cotta Warriors and other ancient relics.
But to me, Xi’an was my first home, and where I spent my early childhood years before my family moved to Canada. I spent most of my time then at my grandparents, whose apartment community was squeezed between narrow, crowded streets, lined with food carts and restaurants. What I didn’t realize at that young age was the rich and complex history of those streets.
This series documents an area in Xi'an known as the Muslim Quarters, where most of the residence are Hui—a Muslim ethnic group in China. In the last decade the area has become a booming tourist destination, known for its street food. Having spent my early childhood there, I haven't been able to find this unique food scene anywhere else. As Chinese Muslims continue to be systematically persecuted in China, the Hui people are working hard to hold on to their homes, religion, and culture, even if it means making it a commodity.
I was lucky enough to be there during the month of Ramadan, when Muslims practice fasting from dawn to dusk. As night fell, the local Great Mosque offered a seat and a meal for anyone wanting to eat. A friend took me through the dark and quiet side streets, so dark compared to the neon-lit, circus-like main strip. Collectively, men separated from women, they prayed, and then they ate.
*The women requested not to be photographed.