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“Carrying out this photograph project is because of the inspiration after reading the novel River of the North written by Zhang Chengzhi. Attracted by the powerful words in this novel, I decided to take a walk along the Yellow River to experience and feel the father-like broad and wide brought from this river, so that I could find the root of my soul. While along the way, the river from my mind was inundated by the stream of reality. The river, which once was full of legends, had gone and disappeared. That is kind of my profound pessimism. Nevertheless, as a vast country with a long history, its future is always bright. There is a descent in the matrix; there is her own nutrition to feed her babies; there is the power of creation to cultivate them strongly. The weak moaning finally will be drowned by the shout for joy. From this point of view, it seems, all shall be optimistic.” - Zhang KeChun "The Yellow River”

“For all time, mountains and water ("Shan Shui") has resonated with the affection of Chinese people. Showing the pleasure of literati‘s traveling through natural sceneries; cultivating inner strength based on the principles that "mountains embody morality” and “water embraces virtues” ; creating distance as an illusion, these elements play a prominent role in the art of depicting Chinese mountains and water.

My career, as a photographer, gives me an opportunity to travel around China. It makes me rethink the meaning of mountains and water for us, nowadays. China is undergoing high-speed development and immerses itself in the exultation of prosperity. However, havoc and destruction are inevitable. In this setting, people like us are actually as insignificant as dust. Therefore, over the years of traveling the mountains and water, I have been looking for these people who are still dependent on the mountains and water. When I took photographs, I decided to replace myself with my subjects. I put myself in their position, and the person who replaced me would press the shutter button. I think there is nothing more intense and deeper than the feeling of being one of them, though only for a brief moment. I am pleased with the serendipitous beauty on the road, but I am also deeply concerned that all these things will probably disappear at some point in the future.” - Zhang KeChun “Among Mountains and Water”