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A visitor examines images at a photographic exhibition at Beijing's He Art Museum. [Photo provided to China Daily]

As autumn paints the city with vibrant colors, Beijing welcomes a dazzling display of visual artistry with Photo Beijing 2024, also known as the annual Beijing International Photography Week.

Opened on Oct 19 at Beijing's China Millennium Monument, Photo Beijing 2024 showcases more than 5,400 works from more than 2,600 photographers in 58 exhibitions.

This year marks its 12th edition, themed "Image: Life — Eternity". The event is jointly hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the People's Government of Beijing Municipality with support from various photography associations and cultural organizations.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Riccardo Busi, president of the International Federation of Photographic Art, applauded the event as an extraordinary platform that unites photographers worldwide, allowing them to exchange artistic ideas and showcase their talents.

"Such an event is not just about celebrating photography but fostering mutual understanding and building bridges between cultures," Busi says.

A long-standing partner of Photo Beijing 2024, the international federation co-organizes the photography week's many activities. Busi highlighted the exhibition A Dialogue Among Three World Heritage Cities: Beijing, Athens, and Florence hosted by the international federation in collaboration with the China Artistic Photography Society.

With 110 works by Chinese and international photographers, the exhibition showcases the landscape, time-honored history and rich cultural heritage boasted by all three cities.

"Our goals extend beyond promoting the beauty of these three cities; we aim to strengthen cultural bonds and foster tourism integration between Greece, Italy and China," Busi says. "This exhibition is a powerful reminder of photography's ability to transcend time and space, offering fresh perspectives and a deeper understanding of the world we share."

According to Yang Yuanxing, executive chairman of the event's organizing committee and honorary president of the China Artistic Photography Society, this year's event organizes 58 exhibitions and 13 panel discussions until Monday.

These activities revolve around nine main recurring sections of the photography week, offering a comprehensive exploration of visual art and its role in modern society, including the image of contemporary China, classic works by renowned photographers, world heritage, global landmarks and academic dialogues.

Meanwhile, they also closely align with emerging trends and the latest themes, such as high-quality development, new quality productive forces and the in-depth integration of culture and tourism.

Another key feature this year is that the event extends beyond its base venue China Millennium Monument to incorporate 11 additional venues around Beijing, including galleries and art centers, universities, parks and even a hospital art therapy space.

"The exhibits range from young photographers' visual explorations to classic pieces through the lens of photography masters. They allow us to reflect on historical images and keep an eye on the spirit and essence of the new era. This diversity fully demonstrates the photography week's professionalism, international scope, artistic value and academic rigor," Yang says.

"The main and subsidiary venues bring photographic art into broader public view and facilitate the exhibition-going experience of photography enthusiasts, where the infinite charm and emotional impact of photographic art are amply showcased."

Zhao Yingxin, artistic director of the event, announced at the opening ceremony that the theme for the event's 2025 edition will be "Image: Civilization — New Quality", which will explore the role of photography as a form of new quality productive forces to boost advanced productivity.

"Photography not only preserves life but also sustains civilization. Today, in an era filled with both opportunities and challenges, photography has entered the age of artificial intelligence," Zhao says.

"As a new force, photography will continue to drive the exchange and fusion of civilizations, witness technological advancements, humanistic care and environmental protection, and celebrate the value of cultural diversity on a broader scale."