Leo Ye

Cold, dry, lonely.

It’s almost winter again - arguably Beijing’s worst season, competing closely with summer. Between 40°C summer days and winter winds at −20°C, living here takes some preparation. Having quarter-zips and tank tops in the same closet feels awkward, but that’s Beijing for me. Still, there’s one thing I like about the cold.

Winter keeps people indoors. The heating never seems to arrive soon enough, but once it does, everyone stays warm and cozy inside. Outside, especially early in the morning, there’s hardly anyone. I remember waking at six and taking a taxi to a park, finding only birds, squirrels, and wandering cats. There was something about the silence, and the slight loneliness, that I still can’t quite explain.

My photography has always been tied to a chill. To be clear, I don’t enjoy winter. I sort of hate it. My favorite season is autumn - not early autumn, when it’s still too hot, or late autumn, when it’s already too cold. Just those few weeks when I can wear a T-shirt outside without sweating or freezing.

Yet my best outings - the ones I remember most fondly - have been in down jackets, not T-shirts.

I don’t know why.

October 24, 2026