This image was captured in 2016 at Daming Temple in Yangzhou, China. A dense circle of incense sticks burns in silent unison, their red inscriptions gradually fading as flame and ash intertwine. The atmosphere is thick with heat and reverence, evoking a sense of solemnity and spiritual weight. Photographed from a low, intimate angle, the image invites the viewer into the heart of the ritual, where belief becomes tangible. Hans Xu uses vivid color and close composition to document not just a moment of worship, but a powerful encounter between tradition and transience.