Michael Rank was a British Council student in China from 1974-1976. During his time at Peking University in 1975, he and his classmates visited the Shangnian Brigade of the Beixiaoying Commune in Shunyi County, Beijing. His photos show a rare glimpse of daily life in China’s people’s communes, which were launched by Mao during the Great Leap Forward in 1958 and lasted until the early 1980s. Many more photos by Michael of his life in China are posted on his Flickr page.
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- The commune from above
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- Commune granary
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- Lining up for work
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- Working in the fields
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- Making noodles
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- Herb fields
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- Making mud bricks
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- Working in the fields
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- Cabbage fields
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- Commune teachers singing
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- A quiet moment
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- Young commune member
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- Mother and son
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- Three generations
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- North Korean students
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- Old wheels
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- Lunch
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- Basketball at the commune
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- Commune farewell
These photos were posted with the permission of the photographer.
