Fujifilm travel documentary photography in China: Pearl Harvesting
SHANXIAHU TOWN, ZHUJI, CHINA
Zhuji City is the biggest distributor of freshwater pearls in the world. The pearls are exported to more than 50 countries, and 90% of freshwater pearls sold in the world are supplied by the city alone.
Workers tolling under the rain.
The colourful umbrellas contrasted against an otherwise grey and dull scene.
The workers had defined roles.
Some opened the oysters…
…while others shelled them
Can you spot the pearls?
A worker carries two buckets full of oysters and pearls.
He then proceeds to rinse away the oysters, leaving only the pearls in the bucket.
The rinsing process is repeated several times until the water turns clear and no oysters are left in the bucket.
A bucket full of pearls.
The pearls will then be sorted according to colour and size, before they are made into jewellery and other products.
