Dong Shuchang, a 23-year-old photographer from Ningxia Hui autonomous region, was recently named Astronomy Photographer of the Year by the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England.

He won the title for his "mesmerising" photograph of the cosmos in Tibet autonomous region named The Golden Ring, according to the Royal Museums Greenwich.

The picture depicts an annular solar eclipse in the Ngari prefecture of the Tibet autonomous region on June 21, 2020, prompting Judge Steve Marsh to comment on the photograph as "moody, serene, perfectly captured and expertly processed".

Dong's photograph stood out from among 4,500 entries. He said he had been planning to join the contest for nearly two years.

Dong said he has been dabbling in photography since the beginning of 2018 and he was keen on the starry photograph.

In primary school, Dong's father bought him the science book A Brief History Of Time by Stephen Hawking. From that time on, Dong was deeply attracted to the magical planetary pictures.

He also got an astronomical telescope from his father and he watched lots of documentaries and TV series related to the cosmos.

As a native of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, Dong said he had an emotional attachment to the region. He has become a frequent visitor to the scenic spots such as the Tengger Desert, the Mu Us Desert, and the North Beach in the region.