Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Visitors of the Leaping Tiger Gorge

This photograph features tourists at Leaping Tiger Gorge, a scenic canyon carved by a tributary of the upper Yangtze River. Situated in Diqing, an autonomous prefecture in Yunnan, southwestern China, the region is home to the indigenous Naxi people. The name “Diqing” originates from the Tibetan word བདེ་ཆེན (dêqên), which means “auspicious place.” The contrast between the ancient landscape and the modern impulse to document experiences digitally invites reflection on humanity’s relationship with place and memory.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2024
Date Uploaded: 12.2024
Photo Location: Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China
Copyright: © Mia Penn