NEW YORK, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- More than 150 photographers gathered here on Tuesday to share their stories of China and the Lunar New Year told through the lens of a camera.

Siu Mei Ching, a Chinese American in New York, was animated after winning an Honorable Mention with her work "Blooming Fireworks" at the Global Chinese New Year Photography Competition.

"I snapped the picture last year during the fireworks display along Hudson River, a signature event for Chinese New Year celebrations in New York City," said Ching.

The year's event received 63,346 works, a record number of submissions for the four-year-old contest, among which, 169 claimed awards across different categories, according to the organizers.

Open to both professional photographers and passionate amateurs from across the globe, the Global Chinese New Year Photography Competition has been held annually since 2016 with the aim of introducing Chinese culture and the Chinese Lunar New Year to the world.

This year's competition was co-organized by the Culture Office of the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the China National Tourist Office in New York and the North America Photography Association.

The record number of participants this year demonstrated the attractiveness of China and its culture, Chinese Consul-General in New York Huang Ping said when delivering a speech.

Pictures connect people and are able to tell stories in a powerful way, said Huang, adding that the entries vividly depict the changes that have taken place in China over the past 40 years.

David Mager, dean of Photography Department of New York Film Academy who attended the ceremony, said photography can be the bridge between the United States and China since it has the power to invoke empathy and understanding.

"The photos showed different aspects of Chinese culture. The competition helps bring people together to be able to experience cultures they don't necessarily experience on their own," he said.