About the event

Cities are thickly inhabited by memories. The process of the city development has been inscribed into the urban landscape: the renovation of an old building, the launch of a new railway, the creation of a green space, and the operation of an innovative public service……

To celebrate the 10th year of the Guangzhou Award, we called for photos under the theme of “Growing with the cities”and received more than 490 pieces from all over the world that show the infrastructure construction, changes and development, folk culture, and citizens’ daily life of global cities.

In collaboration with renowned photographers and representatives of the international organizations, we carefully selected photos from all submissions for our exhibitions online and offline.

Wang Kunyuan

The Golden Road

Nanjing, China

Title: The Golden Road

Author: Wang Kunyuan

Shot in: Nanjing, China

This photo was taken by drone on December 30, 2021, at the Pukou Avenue, Pukou District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. In the early morning, the rising sun give a gold color to the avenue. The continuous upgrading of traffic has given a strong impetus to the local economic construction and social development. 


Liang Jiahui

Disappearance and Rebirth

Guangzhou, China

Title: Disappearance and Rebirth

Author: Liang Jiahui

Shot in: Guangzhou, China

This set of photos was taken in Luju Road in Fangcun, Liwan District, Guangzhou. When I was a child, every year on New Year's Eve, there would be gorgeous fireworks set up at Bai’etan lighting up the night sky. When I was in primary school, I rode on my uncle's shoulders to watch the fireworks; when I grew up a bit, I watched the fireworks with my best friend in junior high school and attended tuition classes at the Workers' Cultural Palace by myself; later on, the fireworks were cancelled and the place gradually lost its attraction. It was not until 2 years ago that the planning of the Bai’etan Business District in Guangzhou's western CBD was put forward, and a vast expropriation, demolition and pushing of buildings began here. It was still a bit of a trance to see the memories of my childhood disappearing little by little without leaving a trace. Today, the main body of Guangzhou's "three museums in one" project (Art Museum, Literature Museum and Non-Foreign Heritage Museum) has been topped off, and soon there will be a new public cultural square, a new high-rise building, and a thriving new look. I am sad to see it go, but meanwhile, I am also looking forward to its rebirth since I think that it will bring more laughter and will become a new art center in Guangdong.

Xie Zhenwei

Untitled

Guangzhou, China

Title: Untitled

Author: Xie Zhenwei

Shot in: Guangzhou, China

I was born and grew up in Guangzhou. I’ve witnessed changes of the time, watching bridges built across the Pearl River one followed another. Haixin Bridge, Guangzhou's new landmark, is the first pedestrian bridge across the Pearl River, and another new name card of Guangzhou after the Guangzhou Tower, Flower City Square, Liede Bridge! 

Qing Zi

Untitled

Guangzhou, China

Title: Untitled

Author: Qing Zi

Shot in: Guangzhou, China

I was mesmerised by the silhouette of the Haizhu Bridge in the soft dark yellow sunset light when these photos were taken on the platform of the Pearl River Water Bus Terminal. 


I was born in the 1990s, and the Haizhu Bridge has been standing on the Pearl River far before my birth. The construction of the Haizhu Bridge began in 1933. As the first bridge across the Pearl River in Guangzhou, The Haizhu Bridge is of great historical significance. In the 1980s, there was a "bicycle trend" on the Haizhu Bridge, which was spectacular. What impressed me most was the year 2013 when a few friends and I were eager to photograph the Haizhu Bridge after the bridge was reopened after a major maintenance. The steel structure of the Haizhu Bridge seems to tell the story of Guangzhou's past in a silent way, as it has been there with generations of citizens. Today, there are a few bridges across the Pearl River, but the Haizhu Bridge still holds a special place in my heart. 

Wang Kunyuan

Colorful Jinling Wetland

Nanjing, China

Title: Colorful Jinling Wetland

Author: Wang Kunyuan

Shot in: Nanjing, China

This group of photos was taken from November 2019 to April this year, all by aerial drone. With the development of society and the attention to the environment, Nanjing has made efforts to promote the construction, maintenance and management of wetlands, gradually forming a virtuous cycle of the organic intermingling of ecological environment and public leisure. This group of photos recorded the current situation of some of the wetlands in the city from the perspective of an aerial drone. These wetlands, used to be sewage ditches overgrown with weeds, have been turned into green and beautiful wetlands, becoming a good place for the public to relax.

Wang Kunyuan

Sharing the First Light of Day

Nanjing, China

Title: Sharing the First Light of Day

Author: Wang Kunyuan

Shot in: Nanjing, China

The photo was taken by aerial drone at Taicheng, Xuanwu District of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province on August 14th, 2018. the ancient city wall of the Ming Dynasty divides the scene into two parts. On the one side stands the ancient Jiming Temple, which has a history of more than 1700 years. On the other side is the Taicheng Garden, a newly built residential district. In the early morning, the constructions of different eras share the first light of dawn, highlighting the achievements of Nanjing in the protection of cultural relics and environmental greening while continuously promoting economic development and urban construction.

Liang Yuanhao

Nansha Bridge

Guangzhou, China

Title: Nansha Bridge

Author: Liang Yuanhao

Shot in: Guangzhou, China

The Nansha Bridge is another world-class bridge project in the Pearl River Delta after the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Wang Kunyuan

The "Necklace" of Autumn

Nanjing, China

Title: The "Necklace" of Autumn

Author: Wang Kunyuan

Shot in: Nanjing, China

The photo was taken at the Zhongshan Mountain Scenic Area of Nanjing, by ariel drone. The leafy street of oriental plane seems like a “necklace” , surrounds the former residence for the chairman of the National Government the Republic of China, also known as the Meiling Palace. These street trees grow well under careful management. In autumn, it resembles a golden necklace, facing the western side of the old Nanjing City from afar. Now it has become a good place for the public and tourists to go for leisure and tourism.

Wang Kunyuan

New Nanjing with Mountains, Rivers, Buildings and Forests

Nanjing, China

Title: New Nanjing with Mountains, Rivers, Buildings and Forests

Author: Wang Kunyuan

Shot in: Nanjing, China

The photo was taken by ariel drone at the Nanjing Stone Circumvallation Park. The ancient city of Nanjing is endowed with the resources of natural landscape and historic sites , and the local government has made efforts to maintain and continuously highlight the geographical characteristics of the ancient capital while grow the economy. This picture shows an organic combination of the Qinhuai River, the ancient city wall, the Qingliang Mountain and the modern city from a bird's eye view, highlighting the unique environmental charm of this ancient capital.

Wang Kunyuan

New Landmark next to the Yangtze River

Nanjing, China

Title: New Landmark next to the Yangtze River

Author: Wang Kunyuan

Shot in: Nanjing, China

Taken by ariel drone, this photo shows the Yangtze River International Conference Center at the Jiangbei New District of Nanjing,. In June 2015, the State Council officially approved the establishment of the Nanjing Jiangbei New Area, which is gradually becoming a new growth pole of the city. This picture captures the new modern international conference center in the Jiangbei New District, which has become a landmark building along the Jiangbei riverfront of Nanjing. The lights at night decorate the building in a gorgeous way.

Wang Kunyuan

Autumn in Yihe Road

Nanjing, China

Title: Autumn in Yihe Road

Author: Wang Kunyuan

Shot in: Nanjing, China

The photo was taken by ariel drone on November 28, 2021. During the Republican era, this area used to be the capital's public house district, where Nanjing's military and political dignitaries, high society and foreign embassies and consulates gathered. In recent years, the local government has turned it into a historical style district for sightseeing and leisure while preserving cultural relics, keeping the original historical appearance as a whole, echoing with the high-rise buildings in the distance and constituting a different architectural style of Nanjing city. In late autumn, the red roofs and blue tiles mingle with the golden vegetation, forming a unique landscape.

Liang Yuanhao

After Hours

Guangzhou, China

Title: After Hours

Author: Liang Yuanhao

Shot in: Guangzhou, China

After the renovation and construction of Yangji Village, the old streets and alleys have been replaced by office buildings and shops, with many white-collars walking on the streets after work.

Liang Zefeng

Untitled

Guangzhou, China

Title: Untitled

Author: Liang Zefeng

Shot in: Guangzhou, China


The photo was taken at the entrance of the Movable Type Printing Interactive Centre in the Yongqing Fang Alleyways of Guangzhou. This was my first exposure to the research of the intangible cultural heritage. The statue of Mr. Bi Sheng and the door sign were renovated as I grew up, and the small flowerpot at Mr. Bi Sheng’s feet is no longer there, probably grown into a large potted plant next to him.


I used to take part in a TV show inviting teens to explore the intangible cultural heritage in China. As a “Teen Ambassador for the Promotion of the Intangible Cultural Heritage ”, I have been in interested in the traditional cultural crafts since I was a child, from printing, Cantonese Opera, making Cheung Fun (steamed rice noodle rolls), to face painting, etc. 


As I stroll along the paving stones of the old Xiguan area, I can see the old and new cultures integrated with each other. The cultural treasures left by our predecessors are not lost, but being preserved by combining with new elements. I could not help but praise that this is the charm of the Yongqing Fang!


Li Ning

Still Shines

Guangzhou, China

Title: Still Shines

Author: Li Ning

Shot in: Guangzhou, China

In the Haizhu Lake Park, several ladies were taking photos with the Canton Tower as their background. In recent years, the Canton Tower has become one of the most famous landmarks in Guangzhou, and the old city has taken on a new look.

Liang Yuanhao

Community Service

Guangzhou, China

Title: Community Service

Author: Liang Yuanhao

Shot in: Guangzhou, China

Next to the bus station, there is a signpost of the nearby ten-minute community service circle, indicating the remarkable achievement of the improvement of community service.

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