View from the very top

Wei Gensheng's camera is his partner when he works alone at his sky-high perch as a crane operator, and helps him make the most of his vantage views. Provided to China Daily

From his unique vantage point, Wei captured breathtaking images of the city: endless rows of high rises poking through the fog, the golden skyline of the city secured by the belt-like Huangpu River basking under the glorious sunset. His photos make the bustling city look like a magic kingdom.

His crane hook often acts as a prop in photos. He has positioned it to look like the hook is lifting the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the 492-meter-tall World Financial Center and the 420-meter-tall Jin Mao Tower.

Wei is most satisfied with the photos he called "the shadow of Shanghai Tower on clouds".

"When it rained the previous day, the clouds will be low the next morning, about400or500meters high. While it is gloomy in the city, the sun shines brightly above the clouds. The Shanghai Tower, which is under construction, looks as if it is within the clouds and if I'm lucky enough, I can catch the rainbow-like halo on the clouds," he says.

Because of his hobby, Wei monitors the weather forecasts and feels excited with every change in weather. "Photos taken during sunny days seldom produce surprises. It is the cloud, the fog, even the haze that make dramatic pictures," he says.

His stunning photos drew public attention when Wei's daughter posted them in 2013 on Sina Weibo, a China-based microblogging web-site. He now has more than 3,000 followers.