Photography festival brings change to ancient Chinese city

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This September, the Pingyao International Photography Festival (PIP) will celebrate its 18th anniversary in the ancient walled city of Pingyao in northern China.

The annual festival advocates for diversity, internationalism and professionalism, and has been considered an important stage for international photographers since it was launched in 2001.

Over the past 17 years, 4.5 million visitors have attended the festival and over 220,000 images from 37,000 photographers from more than 100 countries and regions have been put on display.

It is more than just a celebration of photography, as the lives of many young photographers, locals and the old city alike have been changed by the festival.

Photography festival brings change to ancient Chinese city of Pingyao. /VCG Photo

The ancient walled city of Pingyao was built in the 14th century, and was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997. It is described by the organization as being "an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Han Chinese city."

The city boomed in the 19th century, as Shanxi merchants expanded their businesses across the country, turning the city into China's financial center in the process. Now, the well-preserved compounds of these affluent merchants have made the town a unique site.

Song Linmao, a local resident, is devoted to protecting the residences of Shanxi merchants. He spent four years turning three run-down compounds with the Ming and Qing style into a guesthouse.

"Famous French photographer Alain Jullien once stayed here in the 1990s, he told me to take good care of the local buildings," Song said.

File photo of the 2004 Pingyao International Photography Festival. /VCG Photo

While maintaining photographic traditions, the PIP also pursues innovation and creation. This year's festival, which opens on Sept. 19, will for the first time feature a multimedia exhibition, according to the PIP's art director, Zhang Guotian.

"We will transform an old diesel engine factory into a movie theater during the festival to give audiences a combined video, sound and still picture experience," Zhang explained.

So far, this year's festival has received works from around 2,000 photographers from more than 30 countries and regions.

A highlight will be an exhibition of works from Neal Slavin, an American photographer who specializes in group portraits. For his first exhibition in China, he will bring his magnum opus "Neal Salvin: Groups and Gatherings" to the festival.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency