This photo captures the moment my plane landed in my hometown – my first visit in 6 years. A thick haze blurred the horizon, unsurprising given China’s notoriety for its heavy air pollution. I was disappointed, of course, that the city I love has become so polluted that its residents can hardly leave the house without a mask. But still, even now, when my nose catches the scent of cigarettes and dust, a pang of nostalgia overwhelms me. How strange is it that you can feel so safe in an environment so dangerous?
