Between Mountains and Sea

This artistic photography project originated from my long-term curiosity and enduring interest in the geographical environment and historical culture of Shanhaiguan Pass. Alongside my undergraduate studies, I have frequently returned to the region to conduct fieldwork and photographic research.

Situated between the Yan Mountains to the north and the Bohai Sea to the south, Shanhaiguan Pass occupies a distinctive geographical position. As the easternmost end of the ancient Chinese Great Wall system, it has historically served as a crucial passage connecting the Central Plains with Northeast China, earning the title of the “First Pass Under Heaven.” Since the Ming Dynasty, it has been an important node within the defensive system of the Great Wall, as well as a site where military activity, population movement, and cultural exchange intersected. Shanhaiguan Pass therefore embodies more than the history of a single fortified city; it also condenses memories of ancient frontiers, warfare, and the transformation of regional landscapes.

Today, as the city and its social structures continue to evolve, these historical remnants are increasingly entering into new relationships with contemporary everyday life.

Using a Rolleiflex 6×6 medium-format camera and black-and-white film, I explore the region through its historical sites and social structures, employing a poetic visual language imbued with the sensibility of traditional Chinese ink painting. Through these images, I seek to portray Shanhaiguan Pass as a landscape where the mountains and sea converge, and where the past and present continually intersect.