Chinese photographer Rong Rong, one of the festival organizers, introduces this year's works to the public. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
To add more local flavor to the international festival, the event is holding a photo contest with a sandworm jelly theme, a nod to the popular local cuisine in Xiamen. The 20 best works will be chosen and displayed in future exhibitions.
Meanwhile, there's also a special award for women, the Female Photographer Award sponsored by French magazine Madame Figaro, to honor the achievements of Chinese female artists. Chinese actress Yu Feihong will join in the activity and share her story.
Over the past three years, the 2018 Jimei Arles International Photo Festival has attracted 160,000 visitors, making it one of the most renowned events of its kind on the Chinese mainland.
Chinese photographer Rong Rong organized the festival with Sam Stourdze, who is known for being behind the international photo festival Rencontres d'Arles in France.
The show in Jimei is the festival's fourth partnership with China and also viewed as an "encounter between the West and the East", organizers said.
China has decided to extend its visa waiver policy to ordinary passport holders from Canada and the United Kingdom starting from Feb 17.
Forty-one new port-of-entry duty-free shops have been established nationwide, with Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport, Xiamen Wutong Passenger Wharf, and Xiamen International Cruise Center included on the list.
