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:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.