The 24th Pingyao International Photography Festival (PIP) held a news conference on Aug 20, inviting photographers worldwide to gather in the ancient city of Pingyao, North China's Shanxi province, from Sept 19 to 23 for this grand photography event.

This year's festival, centered around technological innovation, aims to delve deeper into the essence of photographic art. With five major sections and 16 units, the exhibition will be held across four main venues to create a diverse visual world.

Over 3,000 photographers from 30 provinces and regions across China are expected to participate, presenting over 20,000 photographic works. The organizing committee has also received 1,817 entries from 249 international photographers representing 30 countries and regions.

The PIP School Exhibition, an important part of the festival, attracts numerous educators and students annually. This year, a total of 118 domestic and international schools will participate.

This year's leading exhibition will showcase the dramatic changes in the 75 years since the founding of New China along the route of the Red Army's Long March, and the significant achievements in rural vitalization. The New Quality Image - First Underwater Photography Exhibition will be an immersive experience in a new underwater world, and the Youth Photography Promotion Plan will showcase the works of 10 outstanding award winners, supporting young photographers with exceptional creativity.

This year's exhibition also introduces a fresh design in overall planning, differing significantly from past editions in terms of exhibition scale, mechanisms, and visual expressions. It aligns with the current trends in photographic art and photography festival activities at home and abroad.