Enter the surreal wonderland of pagan China – in pictures

Zhang Xiao's photobook Shanxi explores ancient new-year rituals in rural China. With hallucinatory images of villagers dressed up as supernatural beings and near-forgotten deities, it is a fascinating portrait of Chinese peasant life today. Here's a selection of the best images

• Mythical beasts and voodoo worship: photographing pagan rituals in China

  • 'These photographs were taken in Shanxi province in northwest China,' writes Zhang Xiao in his foreword to Shanxi. 'They document old customs originating from pagan ritual practices.'
    SHANXI

  • 'They are, in effect, a voodooesque form of totem worship. A number of these ancient customs still survive and remain some of the most important cultural practices during the lunar new year throughout most of Shanxi.'
    SHANXI

  • 'It appears that the participants have created a dramatic and otherworldly stage – dressing in stunning costumes and exquisitely painting their faces to represent the identities of gods otherwise long forgotten.'
    It appears that the participants have created a dramatic and otherworldly stage—dressing in stunning costumes and exquisitely painting their faces to represent the identities of Gods otherwise long forgotten.

  • 'When I first witnessed the participants line up and then parade around the village, I repeatedly kept asking myself whether I had literally stepped into some kind of surreal wonderland.'
    When I first witnessed the participants line up and then parade around the village, I repeatedly kept asking myself whether I had literally stepped into some sort of wonderland.

  • 'The scenes I gazed at were far too bizarre and illusionary to be connected to events in the real world.'
    "The scenes I gazed at were far too bizarre and illusionary to be connected to events in the real world."

  • 'Compared with the monotony of their usual rural lives, everyone involved in these celebrations transformed into something quite extraordinary – appearing no longer as mere peasants, but as powerful gods from ancient mythology.'
    "Compared with the monotony of their usual rural lives, everyone involved in these celebrations transformed into something quite extraordinary—appearing no longer as mere peasants, but as powerful Gods from ancient mythology."

  • 'With every glimpse of the unfolding events, I saw an overwhelming sense of joy and happiness that saturated the atmosphere and I tried not to disturb this beautiful dream state I found myself in. I truly hoped that I would never wake up.'
    "With every glimpse of the unfolding events, I saw an overwhelming sense of joy and happiness that saturated the atmosphere and I tried not to disturb this beautiful dream state I found myself in. I truly hoped that I would never wake up."

  • All the images in the book are shot with a Holga camera
    All the images in the book are shot with a Holga camera.

  • Shanxi by Zhang Xiao is available now, published by Little Big Man books
    SHANXI by Zhang Xiao is available now on Little Big Man books
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