Racing to capture ancient sites

Exploring antiquities

China has 5,058 nationally protected cultural relic sites. Rong has photographed 1,717 of them. But he said he does not treat 5,058 as a target. Beijing's antiquities, for example, change little and are well protected, so he does not make them a priority.

Many sites protected at the provincial and county levels elsewhere in the country deserve more of his attention. Although he has photographed many of them, he has not kept detailed statistics.

"Most of them are in North China," he said. "I feel sites in the north are more suitable for aerial photography. Also, I like the vast, open landscape of the north."

He also acknowledges that drone photography needs regulation.

"Too many people used to fly recklessly," he said. "When I was shooting, I often saw drones stuck on top of ancient pagodas. They must have crashed there, which could have damaged the relics."