The "Yueyang through a Foreign Lens" International Photographers' Expedition kicked off in Yueyang on April 23. Over the coming days, eight photographers from seven countries including the UK, Russia, Mexico, and Greece will conduct on-site photography sessions in Yueyang, capturing the city's cultural heritage through their lenses.

The "Yueyang through a Foreign Lens" International Photographers' Expedition kicks off in Yueyang on April 23. (Photo/Zhang Xueying)

A pivotal birthplace of Huxiang culture, Yueyang boasts an array of cultural landmarks that have inspired generations of literati. The city is home to Yueyang Tower, one of China's four great towers; Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake; and, Zhang Guying Village, one of the best-preserved ancient residential complexes in the Jiangnan region (Jiangnan refers to the region to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River). During the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, Yueyang received more than 5.22 million tourist visits, marking a year-on-year increase of 38.89%. Total tourist expenditures exceeded 7 billion CNY, up 22.5%.

International photographers take pictures of Liuzhuang, or the Former Residence of Zuo Zongtang. Zuo was one of the most prominent military strategists in Chinese history. (Photo/Zhang Xueying)

The photo expedition is part of a series of promotional events of the fourth Hunan Tourism Development Conference. During the activity, photographers will embark on a cultural journey to multiple sites including the Former Residence of Zuo Zongtang in Xiangyin County; the Quzi Cultural Park in Miluo County; Linxiang fishing float town; the Shiniuzhai National Geopark in Pingjiang County; Zhang Guying Village, and Yueyang Tower. They will capture the charm of Changle taige performances, night views of Bianhe Street, Baling opera, and Baling fan-making techniques. The initiative will enable the foreign guests to gain insight into Yueyang's natural landscapes and historic legacy.

"The daily life of ordinary people often mirrors a locale's cultural distinctiveness," remarked Jason Paul Illidge, a British photographer and three-time finalist award winner at the Eye of Shenzhen International Photo Contest, who previously served as an international guest judge for the China Photographers Association. On his inaugural visit to Yueyang, Jason hoped to capture the city's cultural heritage, ecological vitality, and natural splendor through his camera lens.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: Chinanews