Co-initiated by the Three Shadows Photography Art Centre and Les Rencontres d'Arles in 2015, the Jimei Arles festival is co-hosted by the Three Shadows and Xiamen Tianxia Jimei Media Co, Ltd, and supported by the district government of Jimei in Xiamen.

The annual celebration introduces excellent photography works from around the world, aligning with the latest international perspectives. It supports and encourages the creation, studies and curation of Chinese photography so as to facilitate its presence on the international stage. Since its inception, the festival has presented nearly 300 exhibitions from China and other Asian countries, as well as a selection of outstanding works from Les Rencontres d'Arles. It has showcased works of over 600 artists, attracting over 430,000 visitors.