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  • 2025-06-04
Zheng Wenjun, First Prize Winner of the Inaugural "Quannongtai" Cup World Short Video & Photography Competition: Freezing Rural "Four Beauties" in Lishui Mountain Villages

Zheng Wenjun, a retired Chinese financier turned photographer from Zhejiang province, won the top photography prize at the inaugural "Farmony" World Short Video and Photography Contest with his series Beautiful Village. Over nearly a decade of amateur dedication, Zheng has used his lens to craft a visual ode to his hometown, capturing the "four beauties" of rural life: environmental charm, vibrant living, productive landscapes, and timeless folk traditions.

Zheng’s photography journey began in 2015 during a casual photoshoot while still in finance. His talent soon emerged, with works gaining recognition in national and provincial contests even before retirement. Now a member of the China Photographers Association and Secretary-General of Lishui Photographers Association’s Financial Branch, his focus remains rooted in his native Lishui—dubbed "Zhejiang’s Green Valley" and "Jiangnan’s Last Hidden Paradise." Here, mist-wrapped ancient villages nestle among emerald peaks, terraced fields glimmer at dawn, and millennium-old customs thrive—elements that fuel his art with authenticity and warmth.

When the 2024 contest called for works highlighting rural "four beauties," Zheng saw a perfect match. His series Mountain Village Beauty unfolds through eight images:

郑文军《江南秘境 美丽乡村》组照2 2024年3月17日拍于浙江松阳13004698202.jpg

郑文军《江南秘境 美丽乡村》组照4 2023年3月29日拍于浙江青田13004698202.jpg

郑文军《杨梅种植》2024年5月26日拍于浙江青田13004698202.jpg

  • Natural Serenity: Three shots of Liandu, Qingtian, and Songyang villages freeze mist rolling over white-walled homes, where hamlets appear suspended in soft haze, embodying tranquil mountain life.

郑文军《俯瞰热闹的茶青市场》组照3 2022年3月19日拍于浙江松阳13004698202.jpg

郑文军《茶园晨光_》2023年4月15日拍于浙江遂昌 13004698202.jpg

  • Agricultural Poetry: A striking Yunhe Terraces image—one of China’s most iconic rice terraces—shows thousand-tiered fields emerging from morning fog, a  harmonious blend of nature’s grandeur and human labor.

  • Aerial Perspective: Two drone views of Songyang’s tea markets simplify bustling scenes into clean compositions, where tea farmers stand out vividly against open skies, balancing tradition with modern visual clarity.

郑文军《江中游》2023年7月18日拍于浙江武义 13004698202.jpg

郑文军《云和板龙》2023年2月4日拍于浙江云和13004698202.jpg

  • Cultural Heritage: Intimate frames of the "Lianfang Jiegu" ritual and string puppet performances capture nuanced expressions and gestures, preserving the soul of rural traditions.

Photographing Yunhe Terraces required more than technical skill—it demanded patience. "Their magic lies in fleeting light and mist; you can’t force it—you observe, you wait," Zheng explains. He made over a dozen pre-dawn climbs to mountain overlooks, enduring chill and darkness for moments when sunlight would transform the landscape. "Some days, nature didn’t cooperate. But when it did—when mist swirled and light broke just right—the terraces came alive." This dedication resulted in images where mist flows like silk between fields, sunlight filters in golden streaks, and farmers become part of nature’s canvas.

"While honored, my greater hope is to share China’s rural charm," he says. "These photos aren’t just art—they’re windows into a world where tradition and beauty coexist." To Zheng, each image is a chapter in a larger story: "Together, they paint a portrait of home—its resilience, its beauty, and the lives lived within."

From analyzing financial data to chasing mountain light, Zheng’s journey proves that passion knows no professional bounds. Through his lens, rural China’s quiet wonders gain a universal voice—reminding us that beauty, wherever found, deserves to be seen, celebrated, and remembered.

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