I am a French photographer living in Beijing, China, since 2014. In 2015, I started working as a new media consultant for a Chinese media outlet, which invited me to take part in several travels and events, and offered me the chance to start my journey as a photographer. I then started working as a photojournalist and reporter for them additionally to my other tasks, while traveling through China and Asia on my free time to photograph people and local cultures, with a special focus on vanishing local traditions.
Over my years living in China, I have acquired a deep knowledge of China and the Chinese culture, as well as the Tibetan culture. I also learned Chinese by taking a gap year to study full time at Beijing Normal University, after which I went back to the media industry. I eventually left my full time media job in 2022, still continuing as a freelance writer and contributor specialized on China, and registered my own company in Beijing. In 2023, I started organizing and leading photo tours in China for foreign travel agencies as well as independently, and since 2025, I am also a travel planner for trips to China and the Tibetan Plateau.
My works have been exhibited in galleries in Morocco where I have been living as well, and published in Chinese media. I also took part in several exhibitions. Although my main focus is on travel and documentary photography, I also shoot portraits and commercial projects, with a special focus on interior photography (hotels, restaurants, shops, interior design, etc.)
You can reach me at the following email address: hello@cecilezehnacker.com, and my Instagram is @cecilezehnacker .
EXHIBITIONS:
- 2015: Milan World Expo 2015 – Guangdong Pavilion, Milan, Italy (collective)
- 2023: Hailongtun International Visual Culture Week, Guizhou Province, China (collective)
- 2023: South China Fishing Culture, Cafe Zarah, Beijing, China (individual)
- 2024: Kashi in Lights and Shadows, Kashgar, China (collective)
- 2025: Atlas of Humanity, Paris, France (collective)
GALLERIES:
- De Bouche à Oreille, Marrakech, Morocco
- Maison Blaoui, Marrakech, Morocco
PUBLISHED IN:
- China Pictorial magazine
- China Report magazine
- 人民画报 magazine
- China.org.cn website
- “En Train en Asie” book (Gallimard)