Photographer brings Great Wall to Pingyao

A photo exhibition themed on the Great Wall was held by photographer Yang Dong at the 18th Pingyao International Photography Festival held from Sept 19 to 25 in Pingyao.

Yang, from the post-1990 generation, has won over 100 awards at international film and photography exhibitions in recent years, with his work focusing on some of China's most famous constructions.

At the festival, more than 20 examples of his work were displayed in the exhibition area of an abandoned Pingyao diesel engine factory.

In June, he took part in the making of a documentary called Ai Wo Chang Cheng (My Love for the Great Wall), which featured stories about the ancient structure since China's reform and opening up in the 1970s –– all from the perspective of a full-time photographer interested in ancient buildings.

The Great Wall in the 1980s was a desolate place, but since then, people living near it have been the main beneficiaries from the work that has gone into preserving the structure, said Xie Yaxu, son of Xie Juezai and Wang Dingguo, two revolutionary veterans who feature as protagonists in the documentary.

Yang Dong introduces one of his artworks to visitors attending the 18th Pingyao International Photography Festival held from Sept 19 to 25. [Photo/people.com.cn]

A photo by Yang Dong exhibited at the 18th Pingyao International Photography Festival from Sept 19 to 25 [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]