Straddling two worlds

China Daily | Updated: 2015-04-17 07:26

A newlywed couple's photos have recently taken cyberspace by storm. The Tibetan couple Gerong Phuntsog and Dawa Drolma, both born in Sichuan province in the 1980s, had their wedding photos shot in Lhasa (Tibet autonomous region), Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture (Sichuan province) and urban settings abroad. The stark contrast in the background sceneries and their clothes, along with their good looks, attracted more than 100,000 hits online within four hours after the photos went public. The couple reflect all the hallmarks of down-to-earth Tibetans when wearing Tibetan costumes against the backdrops of a river valley, prayer wheel, watchtower and yak herds. The rustic feel disappears without a trace, however, when the couple change into chic clothes and put on sunglasses before modern skyscrapers and amusement parks in other places. The couple say their idea was to remind themselves not to get lost in the highly materialized society while pursuing their dreams. Their April 11 wedding was held in Sichuan's Danba county, an 11-hour drive from the provincial capital Chengdu. Many friends from afar attended. The couple are not professional models: Gerong Phuntsog has started a business with his classmates, while his wife runs a handmade accessories business online. They hope the photos can showcase Tibetan customs. The photos were taken by the couple's friend He Di.