The much-anticipated 27th National Photographic Art Exhibition kicked off on Sept 27 in the cultural blocks of Shihu Garden of Weifang, East China's Shandong province.

This is the first time that the nation's top-tier photographic exhibition is being held in Shandong. The event is being jointly held by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC), the China Photographers Association and the Weifang municipal government.

Running until Oct 6, the exhibition displays 354 works which were selected from 88,181 entries.

"The National Photographic Art Exhibition is the only one of its kind to be held by the China Photographers Association. It is the oldest, most influential and largest art exhibition of its kind in China. Since its launch in 1957, it has been held 26 times and displayed more than 10,000 artworks", said Gao Qin, secretary general of China Photographers Association.

Gao said that a total of 88,181 works were submitted by 22,629 photographers, a new record on both counts.

"In recent years, Weifang has been pushing photography as a way to promote the city," said Hui Xinan, Party secretary of Weifang.

At present, there are 243 members in the China Photographers Association and 3,155 members in the China Photographers Association in Weifang, according to Hui.

The first Weifang International Photography Week is also underway. It includes three themed exhibitions focusing on Weifang, domestic works, and international works, as well as 11 sub-exhibitions displaying more than 1,300 photographs.

Liu Yuxiang, an official from the Weifang publicity department, said that the photography week is intended as a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and highlights the great changes that have occurred since the founding of New China.

Liu said that the event will also help to raise Weifang's international profile and promote the construction of an ecological, open, dynamic and modern city.

The opening ceremony of the 27th National Photographic Art Exhibition and the first Weifang International Photography Week is held on Sept 27. [Photo/wfcmw.cn]

The photographic art exhibition in Weifang attracts many visitors. [Photo/wfcmw.cn]

Visitors appreciate exhibits at the exhibition. [Photo/wfcmw.cn]