Well-preserved ancient villages, misty mountain backdrops and vibrant fields of rapeseed flowers in Wuyuan, Jiangxi. Photo: Courtesy of Hammond

Editor's Note:
"China in Photos" is a series featuring foreign photographers who have explored China through their lenses. With cameras and curiosity, they capture the country's landscapes and people, revealing a China that is raw, intimate and deeply human. Each interview offers a unique perspective on China's diversity. Join us as we see China through their eyes.

In the third article of this series, Global Times (GT) reporter Su Yaxuan interviewed British photographer Jord Hammond (Hammond). After living in Chongqing, Hammond came to regard the city as his second home. It was Chongqing that inspired him to become a photographer. He said China has many incredible places, and he believed it was necessary to share this beauty through photos.

GT: You once said that after you visited China for the first time, you fell in love with photography, and now it's your major focus. Why did you decide to come to China? How did China make you fall in love with photography?

Hammond: I first came to China in 2015 and spent about a year living in Chongqing, Southwest China's Sichuan Province. Chongqing had a huge impact on me. Before moving there, the biggest city I had ever experienced was London. But Chongqing was London on a completely different scale - more intense, more layered and more alive. The weather was hot, the food was spicy and everything felt so different. Coming from a small town in England, I found the adjustment overwhelming at first. To adapt and understand the city, I started going on long walks with my camera. What started as a way to feel more comfortable soon became a daily habit, and eventually, a passion. Photography gave me a way to explore, make sense of my surroundings, and connect with people and stories.

Chongqing's rich and layered urban life inspired me. From the riverbanks to the tops of skyscrapers, the visual contrasts were stunning. But beyond the city, traveling to places like Yunnan and Guizhou provinces deepened my appreciation for China's cultural and geographic diversity. Those experiences helped me realize that photography could be more than a personal hobby - it could be a form of storytelling.

Since then, I've carried that love of photography everywhere I go, including Indonesia, where I now live. But it all began in China. I hope to return again soon - to take more photos, reconnect with old friends and rediscover the places that first inspired me.

GT: You often recommend areas in Southwest China, like Chongqing, Guizhou and Yunnan. Why do you like these places so much?

Hammond: Southwest China has had a huge and lasting impact on me - both personally and creatively. When I first moved to Chongqing with my girlfriend, we didn't know anyone there. We had no friends or family to rely on, so we were essentially pushed to immerse ourselves in the local culture from day one. 

Chongqing forced me to slow down and observe. I learned to walk in the city with my camera, and through that, I began to understand the spirit of the place. Chongqing was the most formative experience for me.

Then there's the other side of Southwest China: the rural landscapes of Guizhou and Yunnan. Traveling through those areas sparked a deeper appreciation in me for cultural storytelling. The slower pace of life, the richness of tradition and the warmth of the people invited a different kind of photography - one that required patience, empathy and respect.

GT: Many of your photos are taken from aerial or high-angle perspectives. What unique advantages does this technique offer when capturing the landscapes of Southwest China, such as Chongqing's multi-dimensional urban layout or the layered terraced fields of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau?

Hammond: I often use aerial or high-angle perspectives, mainly by drone, because I'm looking to open up new possibilities for photographing places in Southwest China. The landscapes there, especially in regions like Chongqing and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, are incredibly complex and layered. For example, the rice terraces in Yunnan and Guizhou are gigantic and look like vertical cities, with villages built in layers on the mountains. The drone reveals the full scale and structure of these places in a much more interesting and vivid way, showing patterns and shapes that are otherwise impossible to capture.

I have a memorable story related to this from Guilin. I broke my drone in Guilin. While trying to replace it, I met a local girl from Guilin who helped me buy a new one. During the process, I showed her a picture of a place I wanted to photograph and asked if she knew where it was. She didn't know right away but promised to ask her parents. It turned out her parents had hiked in that area about 20 years ago and knew it very well.

The next morning, at 5 am, her parents came to my hotel and drove me to the location. That photo became one of my favorites from China, not only because of its beauty but because of the warmth and help I received from people I met unexpectedly. Unfortunately, I've lost contact with them now, which is a shame, but the memory remains one of the most special moments in my photographic journey.

GT: While most of your work features natural landscapes, some people say your photos carry a sense of human and culture - like the farmers working in the terraced fields. What are your thoughts on this observation?

Hammond: When I began photographing in Chongqing, I was exploring different subjects, mostly cityscapes, trying to find my focus. Over time, as I spent more time in rural areas like Guilin in Guangxi and Sichuan, I became much more interested in the human aspect of these places. What really captivates me is capturing people within their environments - their daily lives and cultural moments.

In the last few years, I've focused more on photographing people and their cultural experiences, inspired largely by my time living in China. Regions like Yunnan, Guangxi and Guizhou are home to many ethnic minorities with rich, unique traditions. 

China is such a beautiful and ancient country with many incredible places, and I've always felt compelled to share that beauty through my photos. It's rewarding not only for people in China to appreciate these images but also for my friends and family outside China, who are often surprised to see a new perspective of the country. I'm looking forward to returning to China someday to create even more interesting and meaningful photographs.

GT: You've talked about Western media often portraying China as just big cities and smog, but there are so many beautiful and lesser-known corners and cultures to be explored in the country that both foreigners and Chinese people should see them for themselves. How can photographers help break prejudice and present the real China to the world?

Hammond: I think Western media often misses the beautiful parts of China, especially the natural beauty and the kindness of many people there. Most portrayals focus on big cities and pollution, giving a very limited view. Through my work and stories on social media, I try to show daily life and behind-the-scenes moments to reveal what life is really like.

China is much more complex than just polluted cities. There is so much more to the country than what you often see. To challenge this kind of prejudice, people need to be curious rather than make assumptions. I had my own assumptions about China before I moved there, some were confirmed, but many were dispelled, and I was pleasantly surprised by many things. 

Photographers can help by showing these real stories and encouraging people, both foreigners and Chinese, to see the real China for themselves.