

A stylish woman consults her smart phone at an upscale Chinese mall. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
Workers prepared a giant hammer and sickle emblem in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square for the 90th anniversary of China’s Communist Party last month. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
The view of Beijing from the Central TV Tower is often obscured by smog. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
A customer looks at General Motors Hummers for sale on the outskirts of the city. To cut down on pollution and traffic, citizens must enter a lottery to obtain a driver’s license before they can purchase a vehicle. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
Photographers use Chaoyang Park as a backdrop for elaborate wedding photos of couples in rented outfits. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
At China Central Square, an exclusive shopping mall, a mother checks her phone as she sits on a bench with her sleeping daughter. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
Soldiers in the People’s Liberation Army – the world’s largest, with 2.5 million members – train in Beijing’s Forbidden City. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
A woman sits in the courtyard of her 'siheyuan,' a traditional dwelling that consists of four buildings set around a common area. The term 'hutong' refers both to the narrow streets along which such houses are found and the neighborhoods they form. Hutongs are disappearing, replaced by wide roads and high-rise housing. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
Beijing developer SOHO has played a big role in reshaping the city, erecting high-profile commercial properties. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
A vendor near Beijing’s Forbidden City sells T-shirts with communist themes, including President Obama in a Mao suit and revolutionary Che Guevara. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
People rest with their dogs – including a poodle with pink ears – at Tiau Jiao Cultural Street which includes a popular pet market. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
Visitors take photos atop Beijing’s Central TV Tower where the view of the city is obscured by pollution. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
People enjoy the street life of Hutong XiSi, one of the few old neighborhoods left standing in central Beijing. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
A shopper looks at produce in Beijing’s upscale Solana Mall. Note the English-language sign. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
A man holds his granddaughter; her head is shaved to beat the summer heat. Grandparents often provide day care for their children’s children. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
Two women chat outside their homes in an old-style neighborhood, or hutong. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
Beijing’s sprawling Chaoyang Park is a popular family spot, with its many rides for children. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
Men peruse crickets for sale at a stall in Beijing. Crickets are prized for the sound they make – and are also used in the ancient sport of cricket fighting. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff
A Chinese family rests in the shade against a painted wall in the Forbidden City. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff