In this rare collection of color photography, Hans Xu turns his lens toward the Tibetan monasteries of Sichuan and Gansu—structures that rise quietly within the vastness of the highlands. While his visual language remains minimalist and composed, the presence of color here becomes an integral part of spiritual expression. Deep crimson walls, gilded roofs, prayer flags trembling in the breeze, and incense smoke curling through the morning light—each element speaks not in volume, but in resonance.

These images center not only on architecture, but on the sacred atmosphere that surrounds it. Snow-covered peaks appear in the distance, anchoring the monasteries in the cosmic order of the plateau. Through narrow compositions and careful restraint, Hans Xu evokes the silence between chants, the rhythm of prayer wheels, and the unseen discipline of monastic life. In Silent Hills, color is not ornamental—it is sacred. This series offers a solemn and contemplative encounter with one of the most enduring spiritual landscapes of China.