In commemoration of the 150^th anniversary of the birth of the photographic art and the 40^th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, China Photographers Association (CPA) and China Central Television (CCTV) jointly organized the First China Photographic Art Festival from October 14 – November 6, 1989 in Beijing.

    The festival showed the evolution of the photographic art over the past 150 years as well as achievements and developments of China’s photographic art and  enabled a wider audience to understand the role and function of photography in modern human civilization.

    The Second Photographic Art Festival was held in October 1992 in Beijing (main venue) and Shaanxi Province (satellite venue) by CPA, CCTV, Guanglian Industries Co. Ltd, Shaanxi Photographers Association and Shaanxi TV Station.

    The Third Photographic Art Festival was held in Sept. 1996 in Changchun, Jilin Province by China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, CPA, CCTV, Jilin Photographers Association and Jilin TV Station.

    The Fourth Photographic Art Festival was held in Dec. 1999 in Lishui, Zhejiang Province by China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, CPA, CCTV, Zhejiang Photographers Association, Lishiu Federation of Literary and Art Circles and Lishui Photographers Association.

    The Fifth Photographic Art Festival was held in Oct. 2001 in Putian, Fujian Province China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, CPA, CCTV, Fujian Photographers Association, Putian Federation of Literary and Art Circles and Putian Photographers Association.

    The Sixth Photographic Art Festival was held in Oct. 2004 in Dujun, Guizhou Province by CPA and Duyun Municipal People’s Government.