In October 2019, Xu Xuehan was invited as a special guest to walk the red carpet at the opening ceremony of the 2019 Beijing International Photography Week. His representative works were also featured in the academic thematic exhibition of the event, titled “70×70: A Visual History of China — Understanding Chinese Photography Since 1949 Through 70 Artists.” Curated by Mr. Cui Bo, a member of the Curatorial Committee of the China Photographers Association and a judge for the prestigious China Photography Golden Statue Award, the exhibition adopted a distinct academic perspective to trace and present the development of Chinese photography over the past 70 years.

The exhibition placed particular emphasis on subjective narrative approaches, moving beyond the traditional documentary style to explore the tensions and possibilities between history, culture, and individual expression. It proposed an alternative photographic historiography that reinterprets the evolution of Chinese imagery through diverse artistic lenses.

As an artist long dedicated to black-and-white humanistic documentary photography, Xu Xuehan’s works are known for their refined use of light and shadow, profound human concern, and poetic composition. In this exhibition, his imagery revealed a unique narrative style that captured emotional and spiritual moments within everyday scenes. His photographs seek out echoes of history and poetic dimensions of the present in ordinary life, aligning seamlessly with the exhibition's focus on personal and subjective visual expression.

Xu’s inclusion in this landmark show not only reflects the academic recognition he has received in the Chinese photography community but also underscores his continuing contribution and influence in the exploration of contemporary photographic language.