A joint photography exhibition by Shandong and Bavarian photographers was unveiled in Jinan, capital of Shandong province on Dec 15 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the longstanding friendship between East China's Shandong province and the German state of Bavaria.

Jointly organized by the information office and the foreign affairs office of the Shandong provincial government and the state office of Bavaria, the exhibition is part of a series of celebratory events for the 30th anniversary of the sister relationship between the two sides, displaying about 120 works featuring natural scenery, folk traditions and historical culture, as well as social life of Shandong and Bavaria.

The exhibition by Shandong and Bavarian photographers attracts many visitors at the Shandong Provincial Cultural Center on Dec 15 in Jinan, capital of Shandong province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

More than 200 distinguished guests from government, cultural and media circles took part in the opening ceremony at the Shandong Provincial Cultural Center, including Wei Changmin, director of the Shandong provincial government's information office, Li Rong, inspector of the Shandong provincial government's foreign affairs office, and Yuan Gang, an official from the Shandong provincial government's liaison office.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Wei said that the exhibition, in the artistic form of photography preferred by the people, depicts the social, political, economic and cultural life and customs of Shandong and Bavaria in a direct, vivid and impressive way.

This photograph created by German photographer Wolfgang Elster is on display at the exhibition. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Wei added that Shandong province enjoys unique conditions and advantages to carry out cultural exchanges. He also expressed his hope that the exhibition will display Shandong's image of innovation, pragmatism and openness, and promote its culture worldwide.

Li said that the exhibition is more than an art exchanges between Shandong and Bavarian photographers and will help to deepen mutual cultural exchanges and enhance mutual understanding and friendship.

Before the exhibition, photographers from both sides were organized to explore local customs and practices in a 15-day photographic tour in Jinan, Tai'an, Jining, Weifang and Qingdao in Shandong and Munich, Wuerzburg and Swabia in Germany.

The exhibition in Jinan will last through Dec 20 and will then tour to other Shandong cities including Weifang and Jining.

A photograph created by Shandong photographer Sun Weiqing is on display at the exhibition. [Photo provided to China Daily]