Better with Time: The 2026 Guangdong Album, jointly produced by IP Guangdong and creators from around the world, made its official debut on July 23.
In May 2026, IP Guangdong mobilized its overseas social media network of more than 1.5 million followers worldwide, inviting photography enthusiasts to capture a vibrant and thriving Guangdong with their cameras and present it to the world.
The call attracted enthusiastic submissions from creators in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and countries such as the United States and Russia. More than 12,000 high-quality photographs and visual works were submitted. Following several rounds of selection and a blind review by experts, 152 photographs by 122 IP Guangdong creators were chosen for inclusion in the album.
Built around the recurring motif of "song," Better with Time: The 2026 Guangdong Album uses striking imagery and deeply expressive light and shadow to portray many hues that have blossomed across Guangdong over the past year.
Four highlights of the album deserve particular attention.
Landscapes Bear Witness
In the 1970s, 25,000 young militia members ventured into the barren mountains of Huaiji County in Zhaoqing, where they planted 35,000 mu (around 5,765 acres) of forests. The "Yueshan Afforestation" campaign brought the first touch of green to the once-barren hillsides. Today, after half a century of stewardship passed down from one generation to the next, Yueshan is covered in verdant forests, with green peaks stretching one after another, benefiting countless residents.
Also featured in the album are the Leizhou Youth Canal in Zhanjiang, the Changgangpo Aqueduct in Luoding, Yunfu, the Bohe Forest Belt in Dianbai, Maoming and Wanlyu Lake in Dongyuan, Heyuan. Built more than half a century ago, these mega-projects continue to sustain the land and people of Guangdong.
They stand as simple yet powerful testimony to generations of public servants who believed that success need not be credited to themselves.
The Quiet Brilliance of Ordinary People
At the age of 57, Chen Suwei battled the waves to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar. At 22, Wu Yize clinched the World Snooker Championship title with a dramatic 18–17 victory. After two decades of unwavering dedication, Liu Jingyang finally enjoyed her moment in the spotlight at China's 15th National Games.
Chen Yao, chairman of Yaoming Sugar Mill in Huazhou, opened his doors to fruit growers struggling with unsold produce. Dessert designer Chen Shuting stepped onto the winners' podium at Cake International, a prestigious UK competition dubbed "the Oscars of the cake world," with her fondant creation "Traditional Cantonese Morning Tea." Director Lan Hongchun used "Dear You" to write a love letter to the times and his country. Fifteen-year-old Hu Dongping developed a robotic bathing bed, while seven-year-old Zhuang Enqi brought Chaoshan Yingge dance to the world stage.
Perseverance, devotion, passion, kindness and courage are values shared by all humanity, reflected in the faces of people across Guangdong and in small yet deeply meaningful moments.
The World in One Frame
The works featured in the album transcend national and cultural boundaries, combining deep local expertise with diverse international perspectives.
They include contributions from three IP Guangdong Featured Creators: Li Jiejun, Chairman of the Guangdong Photographers Association, Chen Bingzhong, President of the Hong Kong Branch of the China Photographers Association and Huang Minghui, President of the Photographic Society of Macao.
The album also features works by internationally renowned photographers, including Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalists Ringo Chiu and Irfan Khan from the United States, World Press Photo honorable mention recipient Mike Nelson and Russian freelance photographer Evgeny Trofimov.
The Wave of Intelligent Manufacturing
Beyond its landscapes and human stories, the album presents a collection of images depicting a technologically advanced, precision-driven and future-oriented Guangdong.
At Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, an industrial robot uses micro drill bits to carry out precision etching. Sparks fly from welding operations at Maoming Gravity Petrochemical Equipment Co., Ltd. The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory uses its "super eye" to detect neutrinos, known as "ghost particles." In Shenzhen, the world's first humanoid robot combat league, the Ultimate Robot Knockout Legend, gets underway. Robots also take to the runway at fashion week, moving from factory floors into the spotlight of the fashion world.
By preserving these individual moments on its pages, the album gradually unfolds a panoramic picture of Guangdong's high-quality development.
IP Guangdong has created a dedicated section on its official website to provide a long-term online showcase of the works included in Better with Time: The 2026 Guangdong Album. The works will also be promoted through a range of online and offline channels.
Crossing mountains and seas, this sweeping visual chronicle of Guangdong will allow the world to experience the province's development and spiritual strength as it continues to get better with time.
Text | Wang Kai, Li Xin, Zheng Yiling (intern)
