Intl photography festival kicks off in north China

The 19th Pingyao International Photography Festival (PIP) opened Thursday, with more than 12,000 photos from 31 countries and regions on display during the week-long event.

Among the exhibits, more than 4,600 are works from over 1,100 students around the globe.

The festival has attracted a total of 4,119 photographers to gather at Pingyao, one of China's best-preserved ancient towns, in the northern province of Shanxi.

Russian photographer Vladimir Vyatkin, who has won multiple World Press Photo awards, also attended the event.

"Photography is a cross-national and cross-cultural form of communication, which is significant for the preservation of human cultural heritage," he said.

Launched in 2001, the annual PIP festival has attracted photographers from a total of more than 100 countries and regions, and it is considered an important stage for international photographers to display their talent.