In Europe, International Worker’s Day is traditionally celebrated with political demonstrations organized by workers’ unions. In Qingdao, where we’re spending the holiday while waiting for our visa extensions, what should be the ultimate communist holiday was this year marked mainly by a sharp rise in hotel room rates, flower arrangments that spell out “庆祝五一”, and images of the opening of the Shanghai Expo on TV screens in restaurants and shops. It’s not even a full-week holiday anymore — two days were chopped off a few years ago to make room for public holidays marking traditional Chinese festivals instead. If anything, it feels more like the weekend of wedding photography than the day of the worker. But all in all, it’s been a pleasant weekend, and here in Qingdao, the cherry blossom and magnolia trees are in full bloom — spring has arrived. Happy May Day!
A couple have their wedding pictures taken in front of Qingdao's Catholic church