The 26th Pingyao International Photography Festival kicked off on Saturday in Pingyao Ancient City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Shanxi province.
The event features nearly 20,000 works by over 2,600 photographers from 34 countries and regions around the world.
Pingyao Ancient City, with a history of 2,800 years, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. It is one of the most well-preserved ancient cities from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368‑1911).
German photographer Corina Gertz shared her remarks at the opening ceremony. "I'm delighted to join everyone here in Pingyao. This is my first time visiting the ancient city," she said. "For me, photography has always been a way of meeting people from different cultures, of looking more carefully at what makes us different, but also at what connects us."
The themed exhibition at this year's festival focuses on significant historical milestones, including the launch of China's 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026‑30), the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March.
Through multidimensional visual narratives, the exhibition reflects on the glorious years of the Long March and presents a panoramic view of Chinese-style modernization. It pays tribute to a century of struggle with the lens and dialogues with the era's dramatic changes through imagery.
Qi Hongliang, Party secretary of Pingyao county stated that both the scale of participation and quality of artworks have reached new heights.
"The festival, themed 'Openness and Innovation: Building Dreams with Light', comprises five major sections — exhibitions, selection, trade, activities and academic institutions — with 15 units in total," he said.
Since its inception in 2001, the festival has attracted participation from over 100 countries and regions, with 50,000 photographers and 370,000 works. It has become an important platform for China to connect with the world.
Li Jialu contributed to this story.
