Veteran photographer Yang Xi, based in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, has kept a habit of choosing his personal Pictures of the Year since 2001. He works for Jinling Evening News, but had to give up the news frontlines for health reasons in 2013.

Although he has no pressure now to take front-page news photos or struggle with the proper size for newspaper publication, he still carries his camera to record the moment that he says touches him.

For this year’s pictures, he also wrote down the following thoughts, translated by China Daily website.

In 2013, people are still busy, as always.

With communication tools people can reach each other at anytime, but lose the courage to speak with strangers.

People rush to purchase a house and car, build a hard shell for them, but unconsciously lose their inner peace.

People make more and more money, but lose the innocence they once had.

In a haze, people are still pursuing their dreams, but cannot feel the heartbeats of the other.

Because of health reason, I have to slow down the pace of life, but it allows me to capture the beautiful moments in life.