If Buddhist temples and stunning scenery are all that come to
mind when you think of Tibet, a visit to a new photo exhibition
might broaden your horizons and leave you breathless.
Images captured through the lenses of 100 photographers from 22
countries, including China, reflect the region's natural grandeur
in all its majesty juxtaposed against the realities of daily
life.
The exhibition, at the Culture Palace of the Nationalities in
Beijing, is part of celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of
the founding of the Tibet
Autonomous Region. Titled "China's Tibet History, Reality and
Nature," the exhibition features 700 photographs chosen from more
than 150,000.
Zhu Weiqun, secretary-general of the China Association for
Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture, said at the
opening ceremony yesterday that the exhibition is a glimpse into
Tibet for those who have not experienced its unique culture and
splendid natural scenery.
The photos were taken between June 25 and July 10 when about 100
photographers from 22 countries were invited to participate in a
Tibet tour organized by the State Council Information Office, the
China Photographers Association and the Tibet Information Office.
During their 15-day visit, photographers snapped shots of Tibet's
natural scenery, religious sites and folk culture, and captured the
essence of the region's development activities and the daily lives
of ordinary Tibetans.
The photographers visited Lhasa and Xigaze cities, and Shannan,
Nyingchi and Nagqu prefectures.
"After I came to Tibet, I feel strongly that Europeans'
understanding of Tibet is not good, and there are a lot of
misunderstandings among them," said Jansen Jan, a photographer from
the Netherlands. "I was impressed by the religious freedom enjoyed
by the Tibetan people."
(China Daily August 12, 2005)
