The opening ceremony for the photography exhibition Ningbo in Light and Shadow in Madrid. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The photography exhibition Ningbo in Light and Shadow opened on Sept 26 in Madrid, capital of Spain — its first stop in Western Europe. Through vivid imagery, the gateway to Europe met Ningbo — the port city in East China's Zhejiang province — sparking cross-cultural conversations and emotional resonance.

The photography exhibition series, hosted primarily in Ningbo's overseas factories, has transformed industrial spaces into cultural bridges, helping international audiences better understand China and each other.

So far, the exhibition has traveled to 19 countries — including Cambodia, Canada, Bangladesh, Slovenia, Russia, and Morocco — drawing nearly 460,000 visitors.

Exhibitions are also tailored to local contexts: Buddhist zones in Southeast Asia, industrial showcases in Africa and boutique displays in city squares designed for the general public — all aiming to resonate with local audiences.

In Cambodia, an overseas employee was moved by the serene smile of Ningbo's Maitreya Buddha, reminiscent of Angkor Wat's Khmer smile. Such visual parallels quickly dissolve cultural barriers.

In Central and Eastern Europe countries, visitors dressed themselves in traditional Chinese hanfu cloth to better engage with the exhibition.

Romanian professor Alexandra praised the initiative for making Ningbo's beauty and culture accessible, expressing a desire to visit the city. In Morocco, traditional Chinese music added another dimension, drawing crowds and admiration.

One Moroccan official noted, the exhibition has brought Ningbo and Marrakech closer.

Supported by Chinese embassies and local governments, the exhibition has become a platform for mutual understanding and future cooperation. Over 100 activities have reached more than 400,000 overseas employees, turning factories into cultural waystations.