Intl photographers capture beauty of Shandong

Twenty-five photographers from 19 countries, including Spain, Australia, France, Japan, and the United States, recently completed a 10-day tour of Shandong province during the second "Opportunity China, Vitality Shandong" International Photo Festival — 100 Photography Masters Visit the Land of Qilu event.

The event took photographers through Liaocheng, Heze, Zaozhuang, and Linyi — four cities selected to showcase Shandong's agricultural modernization, industrial development, historical landmarks, and cultural heritage. The tour featured stops at historic sites such as the ancient Guangyue Tower, cutting-edge agricultural greenhouses, and studios specializing in traditional Chinese Gongbi painting.

Twenty-five photographers from 19 countries take part in a 10-day tour of Shandong province. [Photo/Shandian News]

"I'll definitely tell my followers that if they plan to travel to China, they must include Shandong in their itinerary, because here, you can discover important chapters of Chinese history every single day," said Reza Deghati, a renowned photojournalist from France. 

Indonesian travel photographer Harianto Sumawan was captivated by the view from Guangyue Tower. "As someone who loves history, this site made me feel connected to a long cultural continuum," he said.

Japanese photographer Takamoto Masao was struck by China's scale and innovation in agriculture. "We have greenhouses in Japan, but nothing of the size and technological level I saw here. It's truly impressive," he noted during a visit to a modern farming park in Laocheng.

More than 200 media reports and new media products were released throughout the event, with over 300 social media posts being viewed 51 million times. Organizers said this helped project a more comprehensive image of Shandong to international audiences.

"Photography transcends language. It allows us to show the world what we see and feel," said a Turkish photographer who shared his work online throughout the journey.

As the event concluded, participants expressed interest in returning to Shandong for future collaborations and exhibitions.

(chinadaily.com.cn)