40 selected photographs / 7 chapters
Stone corridors at Shilin give way to Dali's temple roofs, mountain slopes and the snow peaks north of Lijiang. The sequence continues through Tiger Leaping Gorge to the golden roofs and prayer flags of Shangri-La.
Phase 1 · 24 January 2026 · Shilin
Within the Stone Forest
8 photographs
24 January 2026
Shilin's stone pinnacles form part of the South China Karst World Heritage property. Water reflects their outlines, while narrow paths reveal steep walls and shaded clefts. Among the rock formations, trees and flowers bring softer shapes and colour.
Stone mirrored in water
Jagged stone formations rise above still water and their reflections.
A window of sky
A patch of blue sky opens between the towering rock walls.
Stone above and below
Pale stone towers and dark clefts are repeated in the water below.
Layers in the haze
Stone pinnacles rise through the trees in layers of hazy light.
A path through stone
Stone steps wind through a narrow cleft between high rock walls.
A tower among the trees
A tall stone tower rises above the trees beside a curving path.
Pink among the stone
Pink blossoms and unopened buds line a slender branch.
Poppies at the Stone Forest
Poppies fill a sunlit flower bed at the Stone Forest, their yellow and orange petals scattered among white and red blooms.
Phase 2 · 24–25 January 2026 · Kunming
Kunming in details
4 photographs
24–25 January 2026
Red ribbons, glass wind chimes and rows of coloured flags fill the close views. Beyond the courtyards, Kunming spreads towards Dianchi Lake.
Red on red
A red cargo tricycle sits beside a tree hung with red ribbons.
Chimes in the passage
Glass wind chimes and red tags line a narrow passage, with stepping stones leading toward the light.
Kunming from above
A bare branch frames Kunming's skyline and the shore of Dianchi Lake.
Colour across the courtyard
Rows of multicoloured prayer flags stretch across a courtyard beneath tiled roofs.
Phase 3 · 26–27 January 2026 · Dali and Cangshan
Dali and the slopes of Cangshan
6 photographs
26–27 January 2026
Painted brackets, red columns and layered roofs stand below the mountains at Dali. Along Cangshan, close views of fern fronds and flowing water give way to ridges fading into haze.
Under the eaves
Red columns support richly painted brackets and upturned eaves at Chongsheng Temple.
A pavilion among the trees
Trees frame an ornate pavilion in the grounds of Dali's Three Pagodas.
Roofs beneath the mountains
A tiered wooden building appears between white walls, beneath the mountains above Dali.
A fern unfolding
A tightly curled fern frond is framed by mature fronds.
Water over pale rock
A waterfall spills over smooth pale rock into a shaded pool in the mountains near Dali.
Ridges fading into haze
Mountain ridges recede through layers of blue-grey haze.
Phase 4 · 28–29 January 2026 · Lijiang
Lijiang, dusk to dawn
5 photographs
28–29 January 2026
Dogs and a cat appear among the town's walls and doorways. From Lion Hill, evening lights outline the roofs below. At Black Dragon Pool, sunrise brings colour to Yulong Snow Mountain and its reflection.
At the counter
A domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) looks over a wooden counter in Lijiang.
A cat on the wall
A grey domestic cat (Felis catus) walks along a stone wall on Lion Hill.
Lijiang after sunset
Lights trace Lijiang's roofs and walls below Lion Hill as the sky darkens.
On the doorstep
A small white dog sits on a stone doorstep.
Sunrise at Black Dragon Pool
Sunrise colours Yulong (Jade Dragon) Snow Mountain above the still water of Black Dragon Pool.
Phase 5 · 29 January 2026 · Yulong Snow Mountain and Lijiang
Snow peaks, blue water
6 photographs
29 January 2026
Snow traces the high ridges above forest and dry meadow. Below the peaks, Blue Moon Valley brings clear water and cascades beneath the wooded slopes.
Snow along the ridges
Snow follows the ridges and gullies of Yulong Snow Mountain above the forest.
Flags across the peaks
Prayer flags stream across a view of Yulong's snow-streaked peaks.
Horses below the ridge
Horses (Equus caballus) graze and rest on a dry meadow below the jagged mountain ridge.
Above the trees
Yellow and red cable cars hang above the forested slopes.
Water below Yulong
Water spills between rocks below Yulong Snow Mountain in Blue Moon Valley.
Across the cascades
Clear water runs over broad stone steps, with the mountain ridge beyond.
Phase 6 · 30 January 2026 · Tiger Leaping Gorge
The river between the mountains
2 photographs
30 January 2026
The Jinsha River passes between the slopes of Haba and Yulong at Tiger Leaping Gorge. White water divides around a large boulder, then the wider view reveals the scale of the surrounding walls.
Water around the boulder
The Jinsha River surges around a boulder in Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Between the gorge walls
The Jinsha River runs between the steep walls of Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Phase 7 · 31 January 2026 · Shangri-La
Golden roofs and prayer flags
9 photographs
31 January 2026
Songzanlin Monastery rises above the water in white walls and golden roofs. A cat, horses and reflections bring the view closer to the ground. Elsewhere in Shangri-La, prayer flags fill the sky. Illuminated roofs and a prayer wheel mark the final night view.
Golden roofs on the hill
Golden temple roofs rise above a wooded hillside.
Flags and painted walls
Prayer flags cross the red and yellow walls of a temple building.
A yawn at Songzanlin
A cat yawns on a wall in front of Songzanlin Monastery.
Stone and reflection
A pointed stone monument is reflected in a quiet pool.
Songzanlin across the water
Songzanlin's white walls and golden roofs are reflected in the water below.
Along the path
A grey horse steps along a paved path, with other horses behind it.
A sky of flags
Concentric rows of prayer flags circle a golden central pole.
The reflected canopy
A large canopy of prayer flags is reflected in a pool in Shangri-La.
Golden roofs after dark
Golden light outlines temple roofs and a prayer wheel above the town.