BEIJING, December 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On December 9, the ceremony “Capture the Splendor of the Forbidden City — Diplomats’ Photography Award Ceremony and Image Sharing Session”, which is part of the “Foreign Diplomats’ Visit to the Forbidden City 2025” program, was successfully held at the Palace Museum. Co-hosted by the Palace Museum, Beijing Diplomatic Mission Office and China Photo Service, and organized by Photoworld Magazine, the event brought together more than 50 diplomatic envoys from more than 30 embassies in China, as well as renowned Chinese photographers and other distinguished business guests, to use mobile photography as a means of cultural exchange and explore the unique charm of the Forbidden City as a world heritage site.
Participants included Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum; Xu Yuchang, secretary general of Xinhua News Agency; and Zhang Chi, deputy director of the Beijing Service Office for Diplomatic Missions, who delivered a welcome speech. Speakers highlighted the historical and cultural significance of the Forbidden City and highlighted the role of photography and this initiative as tools to deepen cultural exchange and mutual understanding across borders. HE Hussam Al Husseini, Ambassador of Jordan to China, delivered a speech on behalf of the invited diplomatic envoys. Huang Wen, deputy director of the Information and Press Center of Xinhua News Agency, provided an overview of the award selection process. Distinguished guests, including Duan Zhipu, president of the Chinese photo department of the Xinhua news agency; Lou Wei, executive deputy director of the Palace Museum; Yu Meng, vice president and vice president of imaging at vivo; and Chen Liqun, executive deputy editor-in-chief and deputy general manager of Photoworld magazine, were also present at the event.
Harnessing the power of imagery to facilitate cultural exchange
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Palace Museum, the Museum, the Beijing Diplomatic Service and the China Photo Service of Xinhua News Agency organized a series of photographic cultural exchange activities under the “2025 Foreign Diplomats Visit to the Forbidden City” program, inviting participating diplomats to capture the beauty of the Palace Museum through photography. More than 6,000 exceptional works from more than 30 countries have been brought together, forming a diverse, three-dimensional and dynamic showcase of the Museum’s vital role as a hub for cultural exchange and mutual learning.
The winners of the Annual Diplomats Photography Awards were announced at the event, in the presence of the leaders and guests present who presented the awards. The first prize winner, Laura Olivo, Second Secretary of the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in China, said in her acceptance speech: “The scenery of the Forbidden City is truly magnificent, with a clear blue sky and the five beasts on the peak of the roof reflecting on the red walls. I was able to capture such a beautiful photo with just my phone.
During the Palace Museum image sharing session, renowned photographer Li Shaobai highlighted how mobile photography can provide a more documentary, authentic and everyday perspective on the cultural site, helping creators convey vivid Chinese stories to the world. Xing Guangli, director of the social news interview room at the photography department of Xinhua News Agency and senior reporter, shared three poetic and enduring images of the palace museum throughout history. Senior journalist Jin Liangkuai presented the transition of the Palace Museum from the Imperial Gardens to a public cultural venue through the prism of journalistic documentary photography.
Representing a vision of integrated development of technology and culture
As part of the event, mobile photographic works by renowned diplomats and photographers were displayed under the theme “Light and Ink • Forbidden City”, showcasing the beauty of the Forbidden City from various cultural perspectives. From the intricate layers of red walls and golden roofs to the juxtaposition of palace structures in the same setting, the exhibition transformed the architectural, historical and cultural symbols of the Forbidden City into shared visual stories of traditional Chinese culture.
Exhibition participants shared their impressions of mobile photography and noted that the advanced mobile imaging experience not only helps them capture many remarkable moments in the Forbidden City, but also allows them to instantly share these moments with their family abroad, thereby appreciating the charm of China’s historical and cultural heritage.
On the same day, these photographic works were also exhibited at the Beijing Fang, an iconic landmark along the city’s central axis, forming a thematic exhibition alongside historical photos of the Forbidden City and images of the central axis landscape. The exhibition presented historical and contemporary stories of the Central Axis through different periods and perspectives, attracting the attention of a multitude of photography enthusiasts. It also featured a selection of more than 50,000 photos submitted to the vivo-supported “Beijing Central Axis • Images of the Times” mobile photography initiative, highlighting the role of mobile imaging technology in stimulating cultural innovation.
As cross-cultural exchange deepens, visual media such as mobile photography, powered by technological innovations from companies like vivo, play an increasingly central role in transforming historical and cultural heritage into shared experiences, dialogues and stories.
About Vivo
vivo is a technology company that creates great products based on user-oriented value, with smart devices and smart services at its core. The company aims to build a bridge between humans and the digital world. Through unique creativity, vivo offers users an increasingly convenient mobile and digital life. In line with the company’s core values, which include Benfen*, user-centricity, design-led value, continuous learning and team spirit, vivo has implemented a sustainability strategy with the vision of becoming a healthier and more sustainable world-class company.
While gathering and developing top local talents to deliver excellence, vivo leverages a network of R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi’an and other cities, focusing on the development of cutting-edge consumer technologies including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, imaging systems and other emerging technologies. vivo has also established an intelligent manufacturing network (including those authorized by vivo), with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. At present, vivo has expanded its sales network to more than 60 countries and regions and is loved by more than 500 million users worldwide.
*“Benfen” is a term describing the attitude of doing the right things and doing things right – which is the ideal description of vivo’s mission to create value for society.
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SOURCE vivo
