Shi Changguo, male, was born in 1954. He is now retired from his previous work. He started learning photography in 2012, and is now the president of Yicheng Photographers Association for seniors in Hubei. He joined the membership of Hubei Photographers Association, Xiangyang Photographers Association and Global Photographic Union (GPU). He has won several awards in the past years including 3rd place in 14th Xiangyang Photographic Art Exhibition in 2016, Golden Rooster Award in 4th Chinese Art Awards, Golden Bull Award in February, 2021. His works entitled “Wandering”was selected by Photo Beijing and winning nomination in “City, Homeland, Culture and Travel” Photo Exhibition. Some other honorable mentions won in 2018 Xiangyang Transformation Photo Exhibition to Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Reform and Opening up and 70th Anniversary of Xiangyang Liberation, Neutral Density Photography Awards 2019, 45th Smethwick International Exhibition of Photography, II International Digital Photography Salon City of Arcos, and Aiyakang International Bird Photography Festival.

Description of the series:

Charm of Han River

Han River is one of the cradles of Chinese civilization and the largest tributary of the Yangtze River. It occupies historical significance as it is often juxtaposed with the Yangtze River, Huaihe River and Yellow River. It is collectively known as China’s “Jiang Huai He Han”. The Han River flows through Shaanxi and Hubei provinces and joins the Yangtze River in Hankou. The river is 1577 kilometers long and the drainage area is 159000 square kilometers.

“A river of clear water pass through the city, and ten miles of green mountains covers the city”, the poem goes. Xiangyang section of Han River belongs to the middle reaches of the river, with a total length of 195km, covering a drainage area of 17,300 square kilometers. When the Han River flows through Xiangyang, it divides the city into three, adding attractive scenery and infinite charm to the ancient Xiangyang City. When it flows through Laohekou and Yicheng, the riverbed is wide, there are many beaches and is full of vitality. The Han River meanders through six counties in Xiangyang, nurturing and nourishing a famous land of fish and rice with million of people called Xiangyang. It is one of the most charming and passionate river sections in the Han River basin. Therefore, it is affectionately called “Xiangjiang River” or “Xianghe River” and is recognized as the “Mother River” by the locals.

In recent years, the city of Xiangyang has reached a consensus to work together to strengthen measures, and to implement the Han River forestry ecological project and wetland protection and construction project, carrying out wetland ecological restoration and comprehensive improvement focusing on the restoration of wetland vegetation and animal and plant habitats. In order to protect the ecological environment and water of Han River, the city adheres to sustainable development, optimizes industrial structure, and carries out special treatment to protect the ecological environment and water environment of Han River. At the same time, the city also attaches great importance the advantages of famous mountains, beautiful water, humanities and ancient city in Xiangyang section of Han River, strives to turn Han River basin into a comprehensive tourist destination integrating ecological sightseeing, leisure, fitness and entertainment, and build a landscape leisure and historical and cultural tourism belt, so as to promote the beautiful picture of clear sky and water, green birds flying on the bank and fish flying at the bottom on both sides of Han River, which will help to promote people’s production, life and ecological environment to develop healthily in the direction of mutual integration.

Images included in this photo series only try to reflect the harmonious development between man and nature in Xiangyang Yicheng section of Han River in recent years, presenting the beautiful scenery and charming of Hanjiang River, and show the changes of ecological environment of Han River and people’s longing and pursuit for a happy life.