Like China, India is a huge and diverse country. Our photographer Du Lianyi, who was there recently, was not only drawn by the tourist sites but also the daily lives of local people.

India is a fascinating country, aptly described by its tourism slogan "Incredible India". It's a place where modern and ancient cultures coexist, luxury and poverty collide, and efficiency and carelessness meet. It is home to breathtaking world heritage, unique natural sceneries as well as surprising and interesting folk customs. To experience India, you have to touch it with your feet, see it with your eyes and feel it with your heart.

A group of curious girls, waiting to enter the Taj Mahal, are attracted by the camera lens aimed at them. Photos by Du lianyi / China Daily

Visitors are required to enter the Taj Mahal barefoot or have their shoes covered as a sign of respect for the monument.

Two women sort through piles of fabric that fill the sidewalk on the outskirts of Arga.

The Gateway of India, which is packed with people and peddlers, is a monument in Mumbai.

A young boy concentrates as he makes flower garlands to sell on the streets of New Delhi.

A woman wearing a colorful and traditional sari stands out in the crowd.

(China Daily 12/08/2013 page6)