Over the 70 eventful years since its founding, the People’s Republic of China has caught the attention of the world with its significant achievements, developing into an independent, prosperous and strong country. Her children are pursuing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, writing a new chapter in history.
To mark the upcoming 70th birthday of the new China, Beihang Art Gallery staged the National Mainstream Media "Aerial Photography of China" Photographic Exhibition on March 12. The exhibition selects 70 photographs taken by photographers from mainstream media across the country, such as People’s Daily and Xinhua News Agency. These photos record the great accomplishments of the country in an all-round manner.
From the aerial view of drones, the photos vividly sketch China’s historic economic and social development, the tremendous changes in Chinese people’s life and China’s steps towards the global community and a leading role in the future. Glass-free 3D technology is applied in the display of some photos to improve the viewing experience.
Now let’s appreciate some of the works from the exhibition and enjoy the grand and beautiful landscape from various facets.
Visual Impact of Mega Projects
Dark Clouds on the Lingdingyang Waters. A sudden change in the weather created three different tiers in the sky at the construction site of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, June 10, 2015. (Wang Chaoying)
The Most Beautiful Chinese Knot. The photographer used a drone to take a picture of the Shunde Flyover in Foshan, Guangdong Province, July 11, 2017. (Guo Jihua)
Daxing Airport. Beijing Daxing International Airport, a national key project, has caught great attention in every stage of its construction. As the main part of its terminal was finished on December 19, 2018, a complete golden “phoenix” appeared in the southern area of Beijing. (Chen Xiao)
Chinese People Living and Working in Peace and Contentment
An Ink-Wash Painting of Zhouzhuang. A snowfall drew an ink-wash painting of the water town of Zhouzhuang, Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, January 30, 2018. (Hai Xin)
People Busy Drying Tea in the Sun. Workers were occupied with drying tea at Dingbai Tea Factory, Fuding, Ningde, Fujian Province, April 2, 2017. (Lin Zuxian)
Beach in Summer. There was a view ofhustle and bustle at Fujiazhuang Golden Coast, Dalian, Liaoning Province, August 5, 2018. (Lyu Wenzheng)
Busy Ports along the Coastline
The Bustling Port. Lights sketched a busy scene at the container terminal of Liangyungang Port, a land-sea transportation hub of the Belt and Road Initiativein Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, June 6, 2017. (Wang Jianmin)
A Thousand Ships Heading into the Sea. After four-and-a-half months of summer fishing moratorium, fishermen began their work on their fishing boats and celebrated a huge catch of fish in Xiangshan County, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, August 16, 2018. (Jing Weidong)
Construction of Xiongan New Area and Coordinated Development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region
Boat Racing in Baiyangdian and Strategic Project in Xiongan. A dozen of speedboats cleaved their way through winds and waves among the reeds of Baiyangdian Lake, Xiongan New Area, Hebei Province, June 16, 2018. Hailed as the Pearl of North China, Baiyangdian Lake is the largest lake in Hebei and its main part is located in the counties of Anxin, Rongcheng and Xiong of Xiongan New Area. (Ji Chunhong)
The First Bid in Xiongan. The construction of the Xiongan Public Services Centre was about to be completed, March 26, 2018. (Zhou Guoqiang)
Xiongan in Autumn. The sheet of golden wheat fields was like a painting drawn on the ground of Mazhuang Village, Rongcheng County, Xiongan New Area, June 11, 2018. (Jia Xintong)
Modernity of Chinese Cities
The Dawn of Shenzhen in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. The morning sun shone on Shekou Port, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, November 21, 2016. Shekou is a Free Trade Zone on the front line of China’s reform and opening-up. (Li Xinwang)
Tianjin. It is one of the first coastal cities that open up, and China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone is the first of its kind in northern China. (Yan Lei)
Chongqing, a Mountain City. Chongqing is the only municipality under the direct administration of the central government in the central and western China. It is an important strategic pivot in the large-scale development of China's western region, a critical junction of the Belt and Road and the Yangtze River Economic Belt as well as an inland open highland. (Xie Guoqing)
Tremendous Development since Reform and Opening-up
Great Changes of the Floating Bridge on Xin River in the Past 40 Years. Yingtan in Jiangxi Province is situated by Xin River. Without a bridge across the river, there was much traffic inconvenience. In the early days of reform and opening-up, people had to cross the river on a simple floating bridge, and cars did so by ferry. This picture shows the old floating bridge in 1978. (Xu Zhiping)
Great Changes of the Floating Bridge on Xin River in the Past 40 Years. In October 1993, the first highway bridge in the city of Yingtan was completed. Over the 40 years of reform and opening-up, the city has went through rapid changes and five bridges over Xin River have been constructed one after another, which greatly facilitate the traffic between the two sides of Xin River. (Xu Zhiping)
Great Changes of the Floating Bridge on Xin River in the Past 40 Years. A photo was taken of the new Xin River Bridge on July 19, 2018. (Xu Zhiping)
Go out by Cableway. Two mountain people went out by cableway from Yuquan Village, Tielu Town, Hefeng County, Enshi, Hubei Province, October 3, 2013. (Wen Lin)
Expressway Leading Deep into Mountains. Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is the only region inhabited by ethnic minorities in Hubei Province. It was once a poor, remote and mountainous region, and now its history without expressways and railways has ended. The picture was taken on April 4, 2017. (Wen Lin)
The Big Changes in Datong City. Once a coal mining city, Datong in Shanxi Province has gradually transformed into a city featuring new energy. Meanwhile, the city values its historic and cultural heritage, preserving and restoring the ancient city there. Taken on August 27, 2018, this aerial photo shows the new look of Yongtai Gate at the south city wall of Datong. (Liu Yujun)
Harmony Between People and Nature
A Trip in the Flower Sea. Tourists rode bikes in a sea of verbena flowers in Fangmaping Meadow, Xingren County, Guizhou Province, June 11, 2017. (Liu Chaofu)
The Most Beautiful Expressway in Guangxi. In the photo there is the expressway from Hepu to Napo, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, October 5, 2017. (Peng Huan)
The Five Islands Connected by Bridges. In May 2002, the project of seven bridges connecting five islands was completed and opened to traffic in Dongtou District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, solving the traffic problem between the main island of Dongtou and other islands around it and directly benefiting 73% of the population there. The picture was taken of Sanpan Island in Dongtou District on May 8, 2018. (Wu Aizhu)
Power of the Pillars of China
Y-20 Military Transport Aircraft. Y-20, China’s self-developed military transport aircraft, made its debut on July 31, 2017. (Ben Daochun)
The Aircraft Carrier. The formation featuring aircraft carrier Liaoning conducted exercises in the South China Sea in April 2018. (Hu Kaibing)
Landmarks of Beihang University
The Main Building of Beihang University. Against the blue sky and white clouds is the Main Building of Beihang University in its Xueyuan Road Campus, which witnesses all the glories of the university since its founding. (Zhang Zhiwei)
New Main Building of Beihang University. Integrating the functions of teaching and research, the New Main Buiding in Xueyuan Road Campus is the largest single teaching building in Asia. It shows the charm of a modern first-class university. (Hou Ruxuan)
Night View of Shahe Main Building. Night fell on the Main Building in Shahe Campus. (Han Siyu)
Voices from the Exhibition
At the opening ceremony of the exhibition on March 12, representatives from China Photo Journalists Society, Guangming Online and Beihang University expressed their congratulations for the success in hosting the exhibition. According to the speakers from the three hosts, the exhibition is a present to the new China on its 70th birthday, and they hope that the grand narratives in the photos on display can show the glories in China’s development and inspire the visitors to gain further achievements in the new era.
The exhibition has attracted a large number of visitors, who thought highly of these photos. Zhang Zhiwei, an undergraduate from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and one of the exhibitors, felt a responsibility to remember the past and forge ahead with the goal to write more glorious chapters in the next 70 years. Zhang Haotian, a graduate student from the School of Energy and Power Engineering said, “From the aerial view, the scenery of my motherland is like a painting unfolded in front of my eyes. A sense of honor seizes me as I appreciate these photos, which have various focuses, such as the idea of the harmony between people and nature, the tremendous development since reform and opening-up, the visual impact of mega projects and so on. I believe that our generation will make our country more beautiful in the future!”
Concluding Remarks
The celebration of the 70th anniversary of the new China is both the homage paid to history and the start of a new journey. All the achievements are the results of relentless efforts, and all the great causes need to be carried on by generations. With the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in mind, now it is time for Chinese people to create a better life and a brighter future with hard work and advance the unprecedented great cause.
Information of the exhibition:
The exhibition is open to public for free every day from 9:30 to 17:30 at Beihang Art Gallery. It will end on March 31, 2019. If a group of more than 30 people need a guide for the exhibition, please call 010-82315702 to make an appointment one day before the visit.
Reported by Wang Qing, Di Bailu and Song Chao
Photographed by Di Bailu and Song Chao
Edited by Song Chao, Zhang Haotian, Shi Yue and Li Mingzhu
Reviewed by Yu Min
Translated by Li Mingzhu
