“Beautiful Countries 美麗的國家 (Měilì de guójiā): Historical Layers” is a visual journey capturing diverse landscapes, from iconic temples to modern skyscrapers. In Mandarin the word for the United States is “美國” (Měiguó), which roughly translates to “Beautiful Country.” I thought of this many times as I visited these foreign landscapes. Each place is a synthesis of past and present, inviting viewers to tread upon the layers of history and culture that shape these beautiful countries.