City views in a wider lens

The situation began to change in 2016. He recalls that on June 5 that year, a local photographer captured Mount Gongga. A month later, Chengdu witnessed a rare scene: snow-capped peaks framed against a sunset glow, visible from many parts of the city. Photos of the scene flooded local residents' social media feeds.

In the years that followed, a growing number of enthusiasts, social media sharing and mainstream media coverage turned mountain viewing in Chengdu from a niche hobby into a unique enjoyment for locals, Zhang says.

In 2016, he joined an online community called "Viewing Snow Mountains in Chengdu", which had been established four years earlier. "Back then, it had only a few dozen members. Today, it has about 5,000 members," he says, estimating that the city has at least 50,000 long-term mountain-viewing enthusiasts.

Beyond the mountains, Jia Nan enjoys photographing Chengdu's old buildings, parks, teahouses, small eateries, flea markets, and its people.

"The city's unique culture and vibrant street life offer photographers so much to capture," he says.

Years of living here have also made him fall deeply in love with this inclusive city.

"Chengdu has given me what I wanted most in life — the chance to pursue my passion," Jia Nan says. The former fashion designer has since reinvented himself as a freelance photographer.

"For me, one of the greatest joys is taking a good photo, sharing it, and helping more people discover the beauty of this city," he adds.