23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Spiritual Pilgrimage

Alongside a highway in the vast wilderness of the plateau, several devotees perform pilgrimage prostrations in various postures. Dressed in simple attire, against the backdrop of vast mountains and expansive skies, their pious movements embody their unwavering devotion to their faith. The black-and-white imagery further accentuates the purity and resilience of this faith.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Tibet, China
Copyright: © Qinglin Li