Greek shares photos of China with world

For Greek photographer George Doupas, Beijing is home. Over the past decade, he has been busy capturing the city's beauty, from its historical monuments and hutong neighborhoods to its maze of streets, sharing his photos online and in exhibitions.

"To me, this represents Beijing, the old and the new, nicely blending together," Doupas said, showing a photograph of Zhihua Temple, a delicate Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) structure located near the Galaxy SOHO, a curvaceous modern office with flying bridges and interlocking passageways.

"It is fascinating to see how the city is rapidly developing while investing so much effort in preserving its past," he said.

Doupas first visited China as a backpacker in 2005. Amazed by what he discovered, he returned several times before settling in Beijing in 2009 after marrying his wife Li Yixue, who works in heritage preservation.

"I enjoy exploring this beautiful city of history and culture," he said.

Some 3,000 years old, more than 800 years of which was spent as the capital of various ancient dynasties, Beijing has a rich cultural and historical heritage. Doupas often loses himself in the magnificence of its ancient architecture.

"The Forbidden City is one of my favorite places, and I go there frequently. That's why I have an annual ticket. So I can go in different seasons, at different times," he said.

"I also go to the Summer Palace. I spend whole days walking around the lake there. I like the hutong in downtown Beijing, there you see real Beijing life."

Doupas also enjoys the city's diversity, "The central business district (CBD), in the eastern part of Beijing, is very different to the old city", he said. Surrounded by foreign embassies and multinational organizations, the CBD is the city's center of business as well as media.

During his 13 years in Beijing, Doupas has noticed the country's efforts to protect its cultural heritage. "The Chinese government protects and restores its cultural heritage. I have seen it in the Forbidden City, in the Temple of Heaven, and in the hutong. The government takes care of old buildings. Many historical sites have been renovated in Athens. It is something we have in common with China," he said.

Beyond Beijing, Doupas has traveled extensively across China. His home in southeastern Beijing, is cozy and decorated with photos and souvenirs from different parts of the country.

Rice terraces cascading down lush hillsides, snow-capped mountains under blue skies and smiling people in traditional costumes are just some examples of the country's beauty to be found in his album.

Doupas said he hopes to serve as a bridge between China and the West.

"A friend of mine, who is also a photographer, came to China in 2012 for the first time after seeing my photos," he said.

Many of his photos of Beijing were displayed in an exhibition in Greece in 2018. Another exhibition in the Czech Republic in 2019 attracted a large audience and much praise.

Doupas is determined to continue his career in China.

"I call Beijing my home now," he said. "I will keep sharing my photos of China with the rest of the world."

Xinhua