Cyclists pedal on Guangxin Road, Shanghai in 1991.<strong> </strong>Wang Wenlan's most famous series of photographs of bicycles tracks China's relationship with the bicycle -- the most common means of transport in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Cyclists pedal on Guangxin Road, Shanghai in 1991. Wang Wenlan's most famous series of photographs of bicycles tracks China's relationship with the bicycle -- the most common means of transport in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
A family travels by bike in Guangxi, 1988. The bicycle once was a family's most precious asset.
A family travels by bike in Guangxi, 1988. The bicycle once was a family's most precious asset.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
Bicycles were gradually replaced by motors and cars and have now almost vanished from the streets in China.
Bicycles were gradually replaced by motors and cars and have now almost vanished from the streets in China.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
A groom carries his bride through a field in Baishan, Jilin province in 2007 as an old man looks on. Wang's work often reveals the clashes between tradition and modernity in China.
A groom carries his bride through a field in Baishan, Jilin province in 2007 as an old man looks on. Wang's work often reveals the clashes between tradition and modernity in China.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
Wang has also covered most major news events in China of the past four decades. Here, people gather in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in an unprompted outpouring of grief for late Premier Zhou Enlai in 1976. He took the photos secretly and they weren't published until the 1980s.
Wang has also covered most major news events in China of the past four decades. Here, people gather in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in an unprompted outpouring of grief for late Premier Zhou Enlai in 1976. He took the photos secretly and they weren't published until the 1980s.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
Men with shovels run to the rescue in the aftermath of the massive Tangshan earthquake in 1976. The photo was published a decade later.
Men with shovels run to the rescue in the aftermath of the massive Tangshan earthquake in 1976. The photo was published a decade later.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
People gather in Beijing to celebrate the downfall of the Gang of Four. The gang's leading figure was Mao's Zedong's last wife Jiang Qing and they were blamed by the government for the worst excesses of the Cultural Revolution.
People gather in Beijing to celebrate the downfall of the Gang of Four. The gang's leading figure was Mao's Zedong's last wife Jiang Qing and they were blamed by the government for the worst excesses of the Cultural Revolution.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
Aviator sunglasses were must-have items among the young and hip in the early 1980s. They became popular after U.S. TV series "The Man from Atlantis" was shown in China.
Aviator sunglasses were must-have items among the young and hip in the early 1980s. They became popular after U.S. TV series "The Man from Atlantis" was shown in China.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
A man carries a load of stones on his back on the Great Wall in 1984. China restored the Great Wall at Badaling in 1984, making it more accessible. It's one of the most popular tourist sites in Beijing.
A man carries a load of stones on his back on the Great Wall in 1984. China restored the Great Wall at Badaling in 1984, making it more accessible. It's one of the most popular tourist sites in Beijing.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
The village of Sanjiang, Guangxi photographed in 1988. The characters on the village gate read "Long live Chairman Mao" -- the most common political slogan during the Cultural Revolution.
The village of Sanjiang, Guangxi photographed in 1988. The characters on the village gate read "Long live Chairman Mao" -- the most common political slogan during the Cultural Revolution.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
An old lady looks at pedestrians at Beijing's Longtanhu park in 1988. In the 1980s, Chinese women were liberated from the dull revolutionary uniforms and started to wear more feminine clothing.
An old lady looks at pedestrians at Beijing's Longtanhu park in 1988. In the 1980s, Chinese women were liberated from the dull revolutionary uniforms and started to wear more feminine clothing.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
A watermelon vendor takes a nap in Beijing, 1995. Wang says he likes to capture life's more mundane moments.
A watermelon vendor takes a nap in Beijing, 1995. Wang says he likes to capture life's more mundane moments.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
A man sells grapes from his bicycle in Kashgar, Xinjiang province in 2004. Wang Wenlan has traveled across the nation to document life in different regions such as Xinjiang, which is home to the mainly Muslim Uyghurs.
A man sells grapes from his bicycle in Kashgar, Xinjiang province in 2004. Wang Wenlan has traveled across the nation to document life in different regions such as Xinjiang, which is home to the mainly Muslim Uyghurs.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
A boy from a nomadic family leans on a rug in 2010 near Ili, Xinjiang.
A boy from a nomadic family leans on a rug in 2010 near Ili, Xinjiang.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
Security guards in Beijing hold five rings to make the Olympic symbol. Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008.
Security guards in Beijing hold five rings to make the Olympic symbol. Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
A garbage disposal plant Changping, Beijing.
A garbage disposal plant Changping, Beijing.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
A boy draws in the National Art Museum of China, Beijing 2012.
A boy draws in the National Art Museum of China, Beijing 2012.
Courtesy Wang Wenlan
Wang Wenlan is one of China's top photojournalists and has been taking photos for five decades.
Wang Wenlan is one of China's top photojournalists and has been taking photos for five decades.