Video｜Creating a “Mobile Cultural Space on the River,” This Photography Exhibition Debuts in Chongqing Xiaodu
The photography exhibition “In the River – Stories of Water” officially opened on the Chongqing Xiaodu ferry.
The exhibition originated from the on-site creative practice of the eighth session of the China Photographers Association’s Young and Middle-aged Photography Talent Class. Last December, 50 young and middle-aged photographers from across the country gathered in Chongqing and engaged in image creation in groups. One group of students used Chongqing’s rivers as a backdrop to capture the relationship between water and people, and water and the city through their lenses. Their final works met with the Chongqing ferries traversing the river, leading to this exhibition.
The exhibition is located on the Chongqing Xiaodu No. 12 vessel and is divided into two sections. The first-floor exhibition hall presents works by the Young and Middle-aged Class students on the theme “Stories of Water,” featuring scenes ranging from the joyful streams of hometowns to the shimmering waves of the Jialing River and the flickering lights by Hongyadong. The second-floor hall, themed “Crossing the River,” invites 11 local Chongqing photographic artists to document the daily life of Chongqing people and the river through their lenses.
“The ferry was once a mode of transportation for Chongqing residents to cross the river. We hope it can become a mobile space that carries urban culture,” stated a representative from the organizing company. “Since the ‘Chongqing Xiaodu’ began its transformation and upgrade, it has been committed to exploring and showcasing the ferry’s own culture while also using the ferry as a distinctive carrier to promote Chongqing. From the inaugural exhibition on the Peninsula Xiaodu to this photography exhibition, the ferry is transitioning from a ‘transportation tool’ to a ‘public cultural space.’ In the future, we will continue to create more distinctive river-based cultural activities for Chongqing.”
Citizens view the exhibition on-site.</
Chongqing Xiaodu ferry
The Chongqing Xiaodu ferry is a traditional river-crossing service on the Yangtze River, historically vital for daily transportation before modern bridges were built. It offers a glimpse into the city’s past and provides locals and tourists with a classic, scenic view of Chongqing’s iconic skyline and riverside hills.
China Photographers Association’s Young and Middle-aged Photography Talent Class
The China Photographers Association’s Young and Middle-aged Photography Talent Class is a professional training program designed to nurture and elevate the skills of emerging photographers in China. Established by the national association, it reflects a long-standing institutional effort to cultivate artistic talent and technical excellence within the country’s photographic community. The class serves as a significant platform for education, networking, and the promotion of contemporary Chinese photography.
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in southwestern China, historically serving as the wartime capital during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). Today, it is a sprawling municipality known for its dramatic mountainous setting at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, its spicy Sichuan cuisine, and its role as a key economic and transportation hub in inland China.
Jialing River
The Jialing River is a major tributary of the Yangtze River, flowing through the Sichuan Basin in southwestern China. Historically, it has been a vital transportation and trade route for centuries, playing a significant role in the regional development of Sichuan and Chongqing. Its confluence with the Yangtze at Chongqing forms a famous geographical landmark.
Hongyadong
Hongyadong is a popular tourist attraction in Chongqing, China, built into the steep cliffs along the Jialing River. It is designed to resemble the traditional stilted buildings of old Chongqing, though the current complex is a modern recreation. Its history is inspired by the ancient city’s dockside warehouses and bustling merchant life from over 2,300 years ago.
Chongqing Xiaodu No. 12 vessel
The Chongqing Xiaodu No. 12 vessel is a decommissioned Yangtze River ferry that has been preserved as a cultural and patriotic education site in Chongqing, China. It is historically significant as the location where former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping embarked on his journey to study abroad in France in 1920, symbolizing the start of his revolutionary path. Today, it serves as a museum showcasing this important chapter in modern Chinese history.
Peninsula Xiaodu
I’m unable to find any verified historical or cultural information about a place specifically called “Peninsula Xiaodu.” This name does not correspond to any well-known heritage site or geographical location in major references. It’s possible the name may be a local or unofficial term, a translation variation, or from a specific fictional context.
