David’s summer 2017 TEDxKeynote at the event in Fengdong Square, Xi’an, Shaanxi, kicked off the aptly-themed event: Beauty. Curiosity.
Inspiring his rail documentary
At that time, David was busy filming a series of rail documentary clips by discovering the country through the national rail network, and in particular, travelling to as many railway stations as possible.
The vast majority of these journeys were made on the national High Speed network, but a significant number of stations were served by, or served exclusively by, Classic Rail trains. These were the trains which were a familiar sight right after the Communist revolution, and well before the HSR era.
David’s journeys were far and wide. Both before, as well as after, the talk, he would travel all the way into northwestern China — as far as Jiayu Pass — and all the way deep into the northeast, to Acheng North and Shangzhi South stations in Heilongjiang. He would also venture into Inner Mongolia, Hong Kong, Kunming, and Fujian, to the then-southwesternmost HSR terminus or where rail met sea.
The talk would inspire others to travel across China in one of the most pleasant, and Green, ways to travel. Furthermore, it would inspire others to take China as-is, discarding preconceptions, and to experience the country for what it genuinely is.
This was the keynote speech on 24 June 2017, and was the sole English-language talk. Clocking in comfortably at just under 18 minutes in the TED/TEDx format, David had the entire stage to showcase the many pictures he took of the Chinese rail network.
Quick Facts
- Talk delivered 24 June 2017 local time
- TEDxFengdongSq, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- English, 18 minutes
- Audience: approximately 250 persons
Some images used by permission and courtesy of the event organisers.