Yao Tong is a Chinese photographer and visual artist based in Beijing. She is best known for her work exploring the relationship between humans and nature, often featuring landscapes and wildlife in her photographs.
Yao Tong was born in Beijing, China in 1988. She studied photography at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2011. After graduation, she began working as a freelance photographer and visual artist.
In 2013, Yao Tong's work was featured in the group exhibition "The Nature of Things" at the Today Art Museum in Beijing. Her work has since been exhibited at galleries and museums around the world, including the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, The Photographers' Gallery London, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York.
Yao Tong's photographs have been published widely in magazines such as Vogue China, Harper's Bazaar China, and National Geographic China. In 2017 she was awarded the prestigious Prix Pictet Award for her series "The Great Migration". Her work has also been featured on international platforms such as BBC Earth Unplugged and National Geographic Magazine Online.
Yao Tong continues to explore themes of nature and humanity through her photography today. She is currently working on a new project that focuses on environmental issues facing China today.