Banquet Hall West, album print, 1908, from the collection of Liu Gang. [Photo courtesy of Liu Gang]
For those who want to explore the vibrant pulse of Xiamen life, they can take an urban art stroll by following the three "city walk" routes curated by the "Isles Project", a new addition to the festival, which encompasses local art spaces, tea houses, cafes, and shops of innovative dishes and desserts.
A fruit of the Sino-French cultural exchange, the Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival was co-initiated in 2015 by the Three Shadows Photography Art Center and the Rencontres d'Arles, which is to photography what Cannes is to cinema.
Since its inception, Jimei x Arles has grown to be a major fixture in China's photography scene, having staged nearly 300 exhibitions from China and other Asian countries, as well as a selection of outstanding works from the Rencontres d'Arles. Over 600 artists have shown their works at the festival, which has attracted a total of 430,000 visitors.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
