After graduating in December 2024, I moved to New York and stayed there for four months before returning to China. I was immediately struck by the city’s energy and the passion of the people living here. You could see it in their eyes, in their expressions—they carried a spirit unlike anyone I had met before. Most of them seemed to truly enjoy their lives, embracing the present while looking forward to the future. They love the vibe of the city, and they carry a sense of pride in being part of it—and I feel the same.

That time in New York was like a grace period for me, a time that I could fully manage my own days and spend most of my time exploring this incredible city. Along the way, I met friends who shared my love of photography, and I also had the chance to run into some of my favorite NY–based photographers like Billy Dinh, Sissi Lu, and Paulie B.

I call this project “City That Breathes” because New York, to me, is more than its skyline and streets. It feels alive—its people, its rhythm, its constant movement all give it the pulse of a living organism. Through my lens, I tried to capture not just what the city looks like, but how it feels to exist within it. This project is my attempt to preserve those fleeting breaths of New York—the moments that remind me the city is alive, and so was I while living in it.