Amid a gentle drizzle, light and shadow dance along the banks of the Oujiang River. On October 24, the 2026 FIAP World Photographers Conference, the 20th China International Photographic Art Exhibition and the 7th International Photography Symposium opened simultaneously in downtown Lishui and Guyan Huaxiang, a historic riverside art district in Liandu District.
Riccardo Busi, president of the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP), remarked, “China is a highly dynamic force in the international photography community.” He noted that Lishui has become an important international hub for exchange over the years, bringing together photographers from different countries to exchange ideas and share experiences.
One of China's longest-running and largest international photography exhibitions, the 20th China International Photographic Art Exhibition received submissions from 125 countries and regions worldwide. It features three sections: “Our Common Home,” “Documentary” and “Art.” Held alongside the exhibition, the 7th International Photography Symposium, themed “World in Focus,” has invited 30 experts and scholars from around the world to discuss topics including the integration of photographic art into everyday life.
A wide range of exhibitions and events will take place during the gathering, including a retrospective exhibition and academic exchange featuring internationally renowned photographer Gregory Crewdson; a photography equipment exhibition; gallery exhibitions; an image market; a youth photography support program; an exhibition by the National Alliance of Photography in 100 Counties; the second Zhejiang Provincial Senior Photography Exhibition; a Huawei XMAGE “Discovering Lishui Together” themed photography tour and roundtable discussion; and themed photography tours for international photographers.
Since the inaugural Lishui Photography Festival in 2004, Lishui has hosted 12 editions of the festival, seven international photographic art exhibitions, seven international photography symposia and three world photographers' meetings. The city has established photography-related cultural exchange and cooperation with more than 50 countries and regions.
“Lishui has become the prefecture-level city with the highest concentration of photography enthusiasts and the largest number of professional cameras per capita in China,” said a senior Lishui municipal official. This year's event brings together seven exhibition venues across the city and its counties and districts, presenting more than 800 exhibitions to offer photographers from around the world a multifaceted celebration of light and imagery. Lishui will seize this opportunity to further develop the integration of photography with other sectors and accelerate its development into an internationally renowned photography city celebrated for its poetic landscapes, openness and cultural exchange.
The event is jointly organized by the Lishui Municipal People's Government, the International Federation of Photographic Art and the China Photographers Association. For the first time, it brings together three major events—the 2026 FIAP World Photographers Conference, the 20th China International Photographic Art Exhibition and the 7th International Photography Symposium—under a new format combining two conferences and one exhibition. The initiative marks a shift from a standalone festival toward a comprehensive platform for international exchange and collaboration.