Take a virtual tour of China through these award-winning photographs

Sure, the buns look pretty tasty. But it’s the extra details that make this image so captivating. Just look at the deep red of the robes. The faint neon lights behind the steam. The textured overflow of the steaming containers. The photo has layers and layers of intrigue.

While much of the world is opening up for international travel, China is still pursuing its ‘zero-Covid’ policy and remains strictly off limits. It looks incredibly unlikely that we’ll be able to travel to the country anytime soon, and the above snap really reminds us of what we’re missing.

But Sinophiles can still tour China – in a way – by browsing the winners of the Global SinoPhoto Awards. The second annual edition of the competition celebrates the full breadth of China’s culture, wildlife and landscapes. The photos are on display in Bath, England, at the Museum of East Asian Art from February 16 to May 14 2022. Here are a few of our faves:

‘Bus’ by Arek Rataj

‘Seeking’ by Huang Jianjun

‘The Shipyard’ by Jiang Xinhe

‘Dancing Dreams of a Mountain Girl’ by Li Huaifeng

‘Shadow Puppets’ by Li Jianping

‘Micro World’ by Wen Dong

‘Seasonal Sea’ by Yang Tongyu

‘Two Ice Creams’ by Yevhen Samuchenko

‘Eroded Oasis’ by Yu Qiyong

‘Shepherd on an Ancient Road’ by Zhao Jinli

Looking for more epic photography? Take a look at the incredible winners of Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022.

Plus: this majestic elephant is among the winning snaps at the Sony World Photography Awards 2022.