Life of a Shanghai popcorn street vendor

You’ll hear 42-year-old Yuan Zhaobao at work long before you see him.

When you hear what sounds like a fusillade of gunshots on the streets of Shanghai's Putuo district, chances are it’s the crackling sound of his smoky old-style popcorn popper, providing a bit of nostalgia and a scare to go along with your snack.

This is the story of Yuan, a mobile street popcorn vendor.

Interview by Rebecca Kanthor, photos by Hippo