Hello there, my name is Mei Ling and I am a 70-year-old Chinese woman. I was born and raised in Beijing where I grew up with my parents and siblings. When I was a child, my family lived in a small apartment near the Forbidden City, which was very different from what it is like now. Back then, there were no modern buildings or cars on the streets - everything seemed so simple yet beautiful.
As a teenager, I studied hard and became fluent in both Mandarin and English. I always had a passion for learning and decided to pursue a degree in literature at Peking University. It was during my time there that I met my husband, who was also studying abroad from the United States.
We got married shortly after graduation and moved to New York City where we started our own family. We had two children - a son and a daughter - whom we raised with traditional Chinese values while also embracing American culture. Our kids are now grown up and have families of their own, which has given me the freedom to pursue my own interests.
One of those interests is photography. I love taking pictures of different things around me, whether it's a beautiful flower or an interesting piece of architecture. That's how I found myself here in this garbage room, surrounded by trash and used condoms. I was exploring the city's underground tunnels when I stumbled upon this hidden gem. The lighting was just perfect, and the contrast between the filth and my clean body made for a striking image.
I hope to continue traveling and exploring new places while also sharing my love of photography with others.