Published on: 2026-08-27
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
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Yan Xin, a journalist for the Shanluo Newspaper, was born in the mid-1980s. In 2017, she founded the charity center “Rainbow” in the city of Shanluo to help children left orphaned in the Qinling mountain regions. During one of her trips to rural areas, she observed that many elderly people, who had worked their entire lives in remote mountainous regions, had never had a decent photographic portrait.
Then she remembered her photography skills and came up with the idea to take free photos for elderly people. At the end of 2017, Yan Xin officially launched the charitable project “Memory of Old Age,” under which she travels to mountain villages in the Shanglu urban district and photographs residents over 60 years old. The service is completely free: from shooting and retouching to printing and framing.
People glowing with anticipation strengthened her confidence that this simple task carries profound meaning. Before each shoot, Yan Xin prepares the place in advance, helps the elderly people do their hair, and neatly adjusts their clothing. Noticing their stiffness and tension in front of the camera, she gently starts a conversation, jokes, and chats with her subjects. A minute or two later, they are good friends, and every photo captures a sincere, touching smile.
Yan Xin’s sincere care deeply touched the hearts of the village elders. For them, not only a beautifully framed photograph is valuable, but also the attention and warm conversations — these are the main gifts.
The spark of kindness continues to grow. The volunteer team has increased from 10 to more than 150 people. In the future, Yan Xin plans to visit more mountain villages to capture the most beautiful moments of elderly people’s lives through the lens.
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