Xu Jingliu from Lanka

Author: Xu Jinglei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Xu Jinglei continuously proves to the world that "a talented woman is made this way" through her actions—constantly transforming and breaking through herself. Unlike her previous two photo albums (shot in Italy and Vietnam), this one has significantly fewer words, totaling only about 5,000, and was completed under the circumstances of "delaying until it couldn't be delayed anymore." However, whether it's Xu Jinglei's gaze in the photos or the stripped-down text, they both exude an indescribable sense of determination and tolerance. She attributes this to the experience and transformation gained from two films. In March of this year, due to a chance encounter, she visited Sri Lanka, a country that had just suffered a devastating tsunami, as its tourism ambassador, and completed her third photo album, Xu Jinglei in Lanka, in just six days. The reason for naming it Xu Jinglei in Lanka is that locals refer to "Sri Lanka" as "Lanka," which sounds more intimate and charming. The photo album chronologically showcases Xu Jinglei's hectic six-day journey in Sri Lanka. She and her team first arrived at the coastal town of Negombo, where the unexpected "Elephant Orphanage" stood, and then successively visited Polonnaruwa, known as the "Second Capital," Sigiriya Castle, the ancient city of Dambulla, the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kandy, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Bentota, before finally returning to the capital, Colombo. The itinerary almost fully captures Sri Lanka, a country where tourism is the fourth-largest industry and is worth stopping for its breathtaking scenery. At the same time, Xu Jinglei couldn't help but showcase one of her great personal hobbies—photography—in this photo album. Along the way, in addition to being photographed by other photographers, she hung a camera around her chest, capturing the exotic scenery that moved her. What is most likely to move readers is the children in her lens, as her photo album says: "The most impressive thing is the people of Lanka, their clear, kind, and innocent eyes, which accompanied us throughout our short journey, adding immense charm to this petite and beautiful country. Those gentle eyes probably come from a determined faith within them, something I haven't seen in any of the countries I've visited before, making it feel extremely precious."