The Annual Photography Rankings of China is a nationwide photography selection program initiated by Lishui Photography Museum. Annually, the organizers establish a recommendation committee consisting of professionals and experts in photography theory, criticism, creation, media, publishing, professional institutions, and curatorial institutions across the country. With a large recommendation base, the selected photographers will receive a widely accepted, comprehensive, and objective evaluation. The recommendation committee selects outstanding photography works from the previous year in China and those with a high number of recommendation votes have the chance to enter the final evaluation stage. During the final evaluation, the judging panel conducts a comprehensive assessment of the nominated works and eventually selects the top ten works.
The 12th China Photography Annual Ranking evaluated outstanding works produced in 2024 and ultimately selected ten artists: Chen Chuanduan, He Zhe, Kan Xin, Luo Xian, Ma Liang, Niu Tong, Qiao Feier, Tao Xi, Wang Haijiang, and Wu Zhengzhong (listed in alphabetical order by surname). The selected artists represent diverse creative fields and age groups across China. Their works span a wide range of artistic approaches—including social documentary, traditional craftsmanship, staged photography, digital imaging, AI-based practices, and typological studies. Together, these works not only present a rich picture of contemporary Chinese society and cultural developments, but also reveal an evolving landscape of inheritance, integration, exploration, and innovation in historical narratives, conceptual expression, and artistic aesthetics. To a significant extent, the works featured in the China Photography Annual Ranking reflect the major trends and characteristics of current photographic creation in China, serving as important examples from the forefront of photographic practice in the past year. By drawing on expertise from both the industry and academia, the organizers initiate this annual selection and exhibition with the aim of establishing a benchmark for the development of Chinese photography and jointly advancing the progress of the field.