Delaney Masal first arrived in China expecting the country she had long seen in American headlines — "crowded, less developed and unwelcoming". Instead, the 29-year-old New York photographer said the experience "floored" her.

　　Masal was among a group of American photographers who traveled through Zhejiang province, visiting Hangzhou, Wenzhou and Lishui, and returned home with a very different image of the country.

　　She had assumed Hangzhou, often considered smaller than Shanghai or Beijing, would feel like a less bustling city. "I was just shocked by how big and bustling a 'small city' could be."

　　The experience stayed with her. A year later, Masal returned to Zhejiang, this time with other photographers visiting China for the first time. What surprised her most was seeing advanced technology coexist with centuries-old towns and landscapes.

　　Yaakov Gottlieb, who expected to see technological innovation, was instead struck by China's scenery.

　　"I didn't expect it to be so dramatic and wonderful," he said. "Waterfalls, mountains, forests — just a gorgeous country."

　　Jonas Hayes shared the same impression, saying he was surprised by "how green everything was" and "how many mountains there were".

　　Rather than focusing only on famous landmarks, James Zhou wanted to capture everyday life.

　　"I want to show what basically normal life is like here," he said, adding that the towns and small cities he visited were "incredibly beautiful".

　　Jack Rush Kelly, who was visiting China for the second time, said his first trip was filled with new discoveries, while his second allowed him to better understand the country.

　　Standing among ancient villages, he reflected, "It's been here for 5,000 years."