The big picture: Melanie Friend encounters a changing China

The big picture: Melanie Friend encounters a changing China

The photojournalist’s record of her 1986 trip is full of friendly, spontaneous exchanges with locals unaccustomed to western visitors The photojournalist Melanie Friend spent a month travelling in China on her own in 1986, when the country seemed to be opening up to visitors and change. She was 28 and had planned for the trip…