Students showcase rural revitalization through photography at Apple event

Chinese university students are using their phones and computers to create powerful visual narratives on rural revitalization, intangible cultural heritage, and everyday warmth at an initiative co-organized by Apple and the China Foundation for Rural Development.

Nearly 30 students from universities including Huazhong Agricultural University and Chengdu University of Technology gathered in Beijing to showcase their photographic works and share the stories behind them at the recent event marking the conclusion of the 2024-2025 Today at Apple Creative Camp.

With 2024 being its fourth year, the Today at Apple Creative Camp has engaged young creators from 14 universities across nine cities since November 2024. The program encourages participants to explore rural development through creative expression while honing their professional skills, according to Apple.

Over the past months, 898 young creatives aged 18 to 22 attended 75 group sessions at Apple Retail Stores, learning iPhone photography, video editing with iMovie, and Mac productivity tools. Students also participated in four exclusive workshops led by renowned photographers to enhance their storytelling techniques.

The exhibition featured powerful visual narratives of rural revitalization, intangible cultural heritage, and everyday life. Zhu Wenjie and his team from Chongqing College of Mobile Communication captured the touching story of a former village secretary who dedicated his life to building roads for his community but never realized his own dream of traveling.

"This camp taught us that while technology advances, the warmth of the land remains," Zhu said. "We hope to carry this inspiration forward as storytellers of rural life."