Su Xue, born in 1967, is a highly respected photographer and a prominent member of the Chinese Photographers Association. Renowned for his artistic talent, he has received numerous accolades, including the Special Honor Award at the 4th International Art Festival of the Ministry of Culture of China, and has been recognized among China’s Top Ten Digital Photographers and Canon’s Top Ten Photographers. In addition to his artistic achievements, Su Xue holds several prestigious part-time roles, such as visiting professor at Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications (CUPT), lecturer at Binzhou University and Tianjin Library, and tourism promotion ambassador of Hancheng City. He also serves as art consultant for the Xuzhou Photography Festival and holds vice-chairman positions at both the Binzhou Photographers Association and the China-Nepal Friendship Forum.
Su Xue’s deep connection with Nepal began in March 2008, and since then, he has visited the country over 30 times, exploring its remote regions like Mustang, Bardia, and Jaynagar. Over the past decade, he has captured hundreds of thousands of images depicting Nepal’s breathtaking landscapes and cultural richness. More than 5,000 of these photographs have been published in over 100 leading tourism and photography magazines, bringing the beauty of Nepal to millions of Chinese readers. Widely regarded as a versatile figure in the tourism world, Su Xue has previously worked with tourism bureaus in several countries to capture promotional images.
His collaboration with Nepalese officials dates back to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, where, recommended by Nepal’s then-ambassador to China, Tanka Prasad Karki, Su Xue served as the full-time photographer for the Nepal Pavilion. During this time, he documented major events such as the Nepalese president’s visit to China and published a photo album titled The Story of Kathmandu. The album, launched by Nepal’s then-Deputy Prime Minister, Surgata Koirala, introduced Nepal to many Chinese readers. Su Xue has since published several other books on Nepal, including The Journey of the Heart – Travel Photography with Temperature and Hello Nepal, further showcasing the country’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
In 2010, Su Xue held his first Nepalese Customs photography exhibition in Zhejiang Province, attended by Ambassador Tanka Prasad Karki and tens of thousands of visitors. This event, the largest Nepalese-themed photography exhibition in China, marked the beginning of many such exhibitions across major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. Su Xue’s exhibitions have inspired numerous photographers to visit Nepal, further boosting tourism between the two countries.
Over the years, Su Xue has been a passionate advocate for Nepal, using his influence to promote the country. He has delivered photography lectures in more than 200 cities, reaching audiences at TV stations, cultural centers, libraries, and universities, as well as prestigious companies like Huawei and China Merchants Bank. In recognition of his efforts, the Nepal Tourism Bureau honored Su Xue in 2013 with a certificate of honor and lifetime travel privileges in Nepal, awarded by Leela Mani Paudyal, General Secretary of the Government of Nepal.
As a long-time friend of Nepal, Su Xue has frequently participated in cultural exchange events organized by the Nepalese Embassy in China. At the 64th Anniversary Celebration of China-Nepal Diplomatic Relations, he represented Chinese photographers with a speech titled God Bless Nepal, introducing Nepal’s natural and cultural richness to an international audience. His upcoming book, Hello Nepal, featuring more than 500 of his best photographs of the country, has garnered praise from Nepal’s Prime Minister, Sharma Oli, for its contribution to cultural exchange between the two nations. Su Xue continues to foster friendship and understanding between China and Nepal through his art and dedication.
The Asian Photojournalists Association (APA) is an independent professional organization dedicated to uniting photojournalists, visual storytellers, documentary photographers and media professionals from across Asia.
