Taking snapshots of heritage

Wang still did not want to give up. She continued telling her how many times she had been there, her knowledge about Dingzhou's history, the disappearing pagodas and the great poet Su Shi from the Song Dynasty, who was demoted to Dingzhou's governor in 1093 due to political struggles.

While talking, Wang picked an extra broomstick in the yard and began sweeping the ground together with the woman. "I didn't expect anything, just wanted to share my stories with her."

But when they finished cleaning the yard, the woman asked her to follow her and opened the door leading to the underground palace. In the following years, Wang went to the temple several times, the gate was always locked and she never saw the woman again.

It is one of the most unforgettable experiences that Wang had in the last two decades during her trips to about 10,000 historical sites around the country, one of the many stories in which she changed people's mind with sincerity.

That is how she got the chances to take photos of those historical sites that are not open to the public. Many of the photos are included in Youshengzhinian Yidingyao Kande 1,001 Ge Zhongguo Guji (The 1,001 Chinese Historical Sites You Must See Before You Die), a book by Wang that was published in March.

According to geographical location, Wang introduces in the book 1,001 historical sites across the country that are worth a visit on four grounds: historical significance, cultural representatives of various dynasties, aesthetic value, and clues for exploration.