Tourists flock to Xinjiang scenic spot for unique photography experiences

Customized travel photography is flourishing in the picturesque Kanas scenic spot in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, as more and more Chinese tourists are viewing travel as an opportunity to craft unique experiences and self-expression rather than just sightseeing.

Compared with traditional travel photography, this emerging customized business provides tourists with one-stop and personalized services including styling, travel portrait shooting, itinerary planning and tour guiding.

Travel photography customizer was classified as a new job type by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China earlier this month.

Han Qi, 54, is one of the photographers who have been engaged in this newly-developing industry. His studio at Kanas, Altay has been busy recently as the enchanting scenic area has ushered in the peak tourist season since the start of May.

He customized a set of travel photography works for a tourist from east China’s Anhui, who wanted to capture her special moments at Hemu Village, a fairytale-like wonderland boasting exquisite wooden houses surrounded by green grassland and boundless forest at the foot of snowcapped mountains.

“After watching [the television drama series] ‘My Altay,’ I had been wanting to travel here to experience horse riding and archery, and to visit the village’s characteristic sites. I want to preserve this wonderful memory,” said Jiao Dandan, the tourist.

With over 20 years of experience in photography and proficient Internet marketing, Han has become a travel photography customizer who can independently design tour routes and provide professional shooting and guiding services. He said his studio receives some 10 groups of customers every day during the peak season.

“Customized travel photography requires us to invest more time and energy. It often takes a whole day [for one customer]. We need to consider every detail, such as the sunlight in the morning and the travel routes, so as to present the uniqueness and distinctive style [of each customer],” said Han.

At present, there are 14 customized travel photography studios at the Kanas scenic spot. The professions said they hope that visitors will immerse themselves in the unique ethnic customs while enjoying shooting in the magnificent landscape.

Tourists flock to Xinjiang scenic spot for unique photography experiences

French furniture maker Fermob is reducing sales to the U.S., pivoting its market focus to Australia and Asia as rising tariffs and unpredictable trade policies weigh on operations.

Speaking to China Global Television Network (CGTN) in an interview, Bernard Reybier, president of Fermob, said the century-old manufacturer is contending with rising prices and declining profits with the increase in tariffs on the European Union.

“Everybody was a little bit surprised by the new duty policy from the United States. But like every company, we have to face that new situation,” said Reybier.

For Fermob, the U.S. market has been a crucial overseas destination for its products. However, the rising tariffs on European-made goods are beginning to reshape the company’s approach to this key market.

“The products sold from France to the USA right now, we have two categories of products, some with a 10 percent duty and some other with a 25 percent duty. This chair was available on the U.S. market at around 150 U.S. dollars, Right now, it’s available at 175. We reduced our margin. I hope it’s not going to last very long,” he said.

This price increase, although necessary due to the tariffs, risks reducing the competitiveness of Fermob’s products in the U.S. market. The company hopes that this situation will be short-lived and that a resolution to the trade tensions will help stabilize the market.

“Right now, the situation between China and the United States is a little bit softer as far as duties are concerned. We hope that this situation will be a situation for the future. We need that, not only me in France, but in China, in all over Europe, and even for the U.S. consumers,” Reybier said.

As the company faces significant uncertainties about the future, Reybier acknowledged that forecasting sales has become particularly challenging.

At the same time, he hopes to strengthen efforts to expand into the Chinese market.

“It’s very difficult to make any forecast for the next season. So we will face a new situation, maybe selling less to the U.S. and more in the other European countries or Australia or Japan or why not China?” Reybier noted.

French furniture giant to explore other markets amid rising U.S. tariffs, policy challenges