This journal brings together Lingzi Kong‘s text-led photography content, including guides, curated collections, and visual travel notes.
Explore the latest posts below, or visit the Gallery and Yearly Albums to browse photos directly.
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Best of 2025: Travel Photography Highlights Across China
Looking back, 2025 was a very special year for me—my first gap year, which gave me the time and space to slow down, travel, and photograph more intentionally. This “Best of 2025” collection highlights my…
Editor’s Picks
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A Year-End Temple Morning in Hangzhou: A Quiet Winter Route from Faxi to Lingyin (Without Missing the Highlights)
Read more: A Year-End Temple Morning in Hangzhou: A Quiet Winter Route from Faxi to Lingyin (Without Missing the Highlights) -
Views Over Planes: Aerial Photos from Airplane Windows
Read more: Views Over Planes: Aerial Photos from Airplane Windows -
3 Things That Improve Your Travel Photography Experience (Without Ruining the Trip)
Read more: 3 Things That Improve Your Travel Photography Experience (Without Ruining the Trip) -
Best Skylines in China: 6 City Views Worth Seeing and Photographing
Read more: Best Skylines in China: 6 City Views Worth Seeing and Photographing -
Washington, DC Cherry Blossoms: A Tidal Basin Photo Collection
Read more: Washington, DC Cherry Blossoms: A Tidal Basin Photo Collection -
Beijing Traditions Photo Guide: 6 Photography Locations
Read more: Beijing Traditions Photo Guide: 6 Photography Locations
Browse by Category
Photo
Colletctions
Curated photo series from cities, landscapes, and everyday life—image-led, with light context and mood.
Photo
Guides
Practical photography notes on locations, light, and composition—made for travelers who love to shoot.
Travel
Journal
Personal travel stories with small observations and takeaways—written to remember moments and share meaning.
All Journal Posts
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Best Time to Visit Beijing: An Honest Seasonal Guide From a Beijing Native
If you are planning a trip to Beijing and wondering when to come, this is my honest answer as a Beijing native who has lived in the city for over 30 years. Beijing has four clearly defined seasons: spring (March to May) is beautiful but dry and often windy; summer…
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Travel Portrait Photography Collection: Everyday People, Quiet Stories, and Small Moments
Personally, I think portrait photography is very different from most other types of travel photography. With landscapes or architecture, the subject often speaks for itself. But with people photos, what matters more is whether the image can carry a feeling, a relationship, or a small story. This collection brings together…
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When a Camera Is Better Than a Phone: 4 Travel Photography Situations
Phone photography has improved dramatically, and for many everyday and travel situations, a phone is already more than enough. I’ve even written a separate post about why I enjoy shooting with my phone while traveling. But after using both for years, I still feel there are some situations where a…
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Haitang Huaxi in Beijing: Crabapple Blossoms at Yuan Dadu City Wall Ruins Park (Photo Collection)
Every spring, Beijing gets a brief, dreamy window when pink haitang (crabapple) blossoms peak—usually from late March to early April—and one of my favorite places to see them is Haitang Huaxi at Yuan Dadu City Wall Ruins Park. This photo collection captures that soft-season contrast I love most: pale pink…
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Phone Photography Tips: How I Edit iPhone Photos in the Built-In Photos App
If you want to edit iPhone photos in the built-in Photos app, this simple 3-step workflow can help you improve your images without relying on professional editing software. Based on my own experience, the three steps that matter most are reframing the image, using Auto as a smart first pass,…
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Flower Photography Tips: 3 Things to Check Before You Shoot
Flowers are one of the most common photography subjects in everyday life, but they are also one of the easiest subjects to underestimate. Sometimes the difference between an ordinary flower photo and a strong one is not the camera or the editing—it is what you notice before you even press…
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Japan in Contrast: City Nights & Countryside Calm (Photo Collection)
Japan has a special kind of contrast that always pulls me back: the intensity of city nights—neon, towers, and endless layers of light—followed by quiet countryside scenes where mountains, forests, and small stations slow everything down. This photo collection brings together moments from my trips across Japan, capturing both the…
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Guangzhou Citywalk Routes: 4 Walking Themes + One-Day Itinerary & Photo Spots
Guangzhou is one of the biggest cities in southern China and a core gateway of the Greater Bay Area—and in 2025, I visited twice and ended up liking it far more than I expected. In this post, I’m sharing how Guangzhou feels as a city (fast yet relaxed, modern yet…
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Beijing Flower Memories: A Spring Blossom Photo Collection
Beijing’s spring is brief but unforgettable—one week it’s magnolias against red walls, the next it’s peach blossoms, tulips, and crabapple flowers lighting up parks and old streets. This photo collection captures some of my favorite “flower moments” around the city, where soft petals meet bold architecture, bright skies, and everyday…