Sixth Tone

<p>2025 in China was marked by the rapid development of the AI industry, the Victory Day military parade, and the popularity of <em><a href="https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1017375" target="_blank">Suchao</a></em> football matches. At the same time, farmers in the central Henan province and flood victims in the southwestern Guizhou province <a href="https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1017928" target="_blank">faced</a> life-altering challenges due to climate change.</p><p>Sixth Tone presents a series of photos that capture the moments experienced by ordinary people, athletes, animals, and even robots.</p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="0" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="1" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="2" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="3" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="4" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="5" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="6" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="7" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="8" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="9" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="10" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="11" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="12" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="13" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="14" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="15" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="16" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="17" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="18" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="19" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="20" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="21" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="22" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="23" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="24" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="25" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="26" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="27" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="28" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="29" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="30" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align:center;height:inherit"><div data-index="31" class="illustrationWrap"></div></div><p></p><p><em>(Header image: A humanoid robot holding a Labubu on patrol during the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games, Beijing, Aug. 14, 2025. VCG)</em></p>

China’s 2025 in Photos

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

A selection of the year’s best photos by Sixth Tone’s visual editors.