Chongqing - Maye Musk, the mother of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, retweeted photographs of "8D Chongqing" taken by local photographer Lu Jinjin on Twitter over the May Day holiday weekend. She commented on the beauty of the photos and expressed curiosity about the meaning of "8D" with a cute emoji.

Maye Musk retweets photographs of Chongqing. (Photo/Tweet screenshot)

Lu explained that "8D" is an exaggerated term for visitors to praise Chongqing's impressive mountainous terrain with its 3D-shaped landscape. Lu also invited Maye Musk to visit Chongqing and witness its beauty first-hand.

Lu Jinjin replied and invited Maye Musk to visit Chongqing. (Photo/Tweet screenshot)

"Making more people see the beauty of Chongqing through her repost is a happy thing!" said Lu Jinjin, surprised to see his work become a trending topic. Although he is only in his mid-twenties, he has been taking photographs for over a decade.

The photographer Lu Jinjin. (Photo/Lu Jinjin)

After graduating from the film program at the University of Toronto in Canada in 2021, he returned to Chongqing and became an independent photographer. "I have been to many cities in China and abroad, but none have terrain and structure as unique as Chongqing's. Many angles are outstanding, and I believe that every photographer who comes to Chongqing will be surprised," he said.

Lu Jinjin's photograph of Chongqing. (Photo/Lu Jinjin)

Through an accidental encounter, Lu Jinjin became good friends with a well-known photographer, Li Fan, whom he had long admired and followed. At Li's suggestion, Lu Jinjin became a "climber" and a "mountaineer," recording every angle of Chongqing with him.

Lu Jinjin recommends several locations for capturing "8D" cities. In his eyes, his hometown of Chongqing is full of magical colors, and every step is a scenic spot. "The beauty of Chongqing in the photos is not even one-tenth of the real thing. Chongqing's beauty is unique in the world! You must come to Chongqing to see it for yourself!" he said, hoping to convey the unique beauty of the mountain city to more people through his camera.

Lu Jinjin's photograph of Chongqing. (Photo/Lu Jinjin)

Lu Jinjin's picture has caught Maye Musk's and many others' attention, and he feels both surprised and expected. "What people admire is not my photo but the beauty of Chongqing. One day, the whole world will pay attention to my hometown!" 

During the recent May Day holiday, Lu Jinjin spent more than ten hours each day traveling around Chongqing, capturing the bustling crowds from every angle, the streams of people on Qiansimen Bridge, the sparkling lights on the riverbank, and the multi-level roads of Liziba.

Lu Jinjin's photograph of Chongqing. (Photo/Lu Jinjin)

How to capture an "8D city"? Lu Jinjin believes that Chongqing's three-dimensional space is mainly reflected in climbing hills and steps. It is helpful to look for reference points such as buildings, crowds, traffic, and the setting sun, to walk more, observe more, and take a closer look. Using a long-focus lens will make space compression more apparent when shooting. For example, the crowds passing by in the foreground and the towering buildings in the distance will highlight Chongqing's unique charm.

He recommended several locations he frequently visits, including Chaotianmen Trading Market, Eling Park and its surroundings, and Longmenhao Old Street.

As night falls, Lu Jinjin picks up his camera and goes out again. "Chongqing is different every moment, and I want to record her beauty as much as possible."