Applying the market mechanism and adopting the general international practice, Pingyao International Photography Festival has adroitly combined photographic arts with the traditional Chinese culture, and the interaction among Chinese and foreign photographers with the trading of photos, thus laying a solid foundation for Chinese photographic workers to crack the international image market. At the same time it has helped cultivate a vast photo-trading market, through which Chinese photographers, for the first time in their life, have come into contact with the international photo market. Although there was not so much actual picture trading as expected, there were more sorely needed opportunities to exchange views with photo agents and agencies as home and abroad, and to try to sell one’s works and oneself.

　　However, to the social and economic growth and to the tourism development of the ancient city of Pingyao, and, to a lesser extent, of Shanxi, the successful opening of Pingyao International Photography Festival has provided for a broad potential market.