Photos focus on capital's passion for hosting 2022 Games

The exhibition Charming Beijing, Passionate Winter Olympics features 60 photos taken in the capital by world-renowned photographers.

The images were selected from more than 100,000 shot by over 100 photographers from more than 50 countries.

They are part of the World Photographers Shoot Beijing project, launched in 1999 and sponsored by the information and foreign affairs offices of the Beijing municipal government and the Beijing Foreign Cultural Exchange Center.

International photographers are invited every year to travel around Beijing's streets and record memorable moments from a Western point of view during a one-week stay.

The exhibition opened in Beverly Hills in Los Angeles County on Sunday as part of efforts to promote Beijing's bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Joe McNally, listed by American Photo magazine as one of the "100 most important people in photography" and the first Alfred Eisenstaedt Award winner in 1998, shows the beauty of Beijing in his series Trends and Landmarks, illustrating the city's rich history through the use of color and light.

"With its over 3,000 years as a city and more than 800 as the capital of China, Beijing offers us the best door to enter this huge country and the best window to know China," said Wang Lin, one of the organizers of the exhibition and editor-in-chief of Beijing This Month magazine.

The capital has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the most of any city worldwide.

"In addition, we want to demonstrate that Beijing is able to provide convenient stays and the best business services for international tourists and professionals in 2022," said Wang.

This aspect of the city is illustrated by photos of contemporary landmarks shot by another US photographer, Trey Ratcliff, a pioneer of high-dynamic-range photography.

The exhibition recalls memorable moments illustrating the Olympic links between China and Los Angeles. There are images of Liu Changchun, the first Chinese athlete to participate in the Olympic Games, in Los Angeles in 1932; the first large Chinese team, at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles; and the first time that Chinese Olympic athletes took part in the Parade of Roses in Pasadena, in 2008. In addition, there are images from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Wang Hui, director of Beijing's municipal information office and chief of the publicity department of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee, said, "We want to show the connection and friendship between Beijing and Los Angeles, now and in the past."

Andy Ma, a fencing coach at the University of Pennsylvania and former coach of the US fencing team, said he believes the exhibition does a good job of telling the world about Beijing's efforts to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

"Many of my American athlete colleagues haven't been to Beijing," he said. "The visual impact of these photos will make them want to see this city in person.

"Chinese athletes and coaches are known for their excellent technique. The Winter Olympics are a good platform where professionals from China and the West can learn from each other."

The bid also covers the 2022 Winter Paralympics. Mao Yi, a lecturer on physical education for the disabled at California State University, Monterey Bay, said success with the bid could promote public education.

"Compared with the US, China is behind in providing social care for people with disabilities," said Mao.

"Preparing for the Winter Games would benefit China's disabled by improving their living conditions as well as advocating for their rights."

Tim Trimble, who teaches English to Chinese businessmen, found the photos of Beijing's Olympic achievements particularly interesting.

"As Beijing has already held the 2008 Summer Games successfully, it is highly possible that it can have another success in 2022," said Trimble, adding that he once lived in Beijing for two years.

"I miss the traditional Beijing lifestyle. If Beijing is chosen, I will plan another trip in 2022, for sure."