Ningbo expats to mark nation’s 70 years by painting peony scroll

The activity of foreigners' painting a 70-meter-long peony scroll for the 70th anniversary of PRC's founding kicks off recently at the launch ceremony of the Ningbo Red Peony International Painting and Calligraphy Museum. [Photo/people.com]

Foreigners from 70 countries across the world will paint a 70-meter-long peony scroll for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China this year. 

The activity kicked off recently at the launch ceremony of the Ningbo Red Peony International Painting and Calligraphy Museum in Nantang Old Street, Haishu district, Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. 

Starting and ending in Ningbo, the activity will pass through Hangzhou, Shanghai, Luoyang, Beijing and some cities in overseas countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative such as Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, and involve a creation period of 10 months. 

It is expected to be shown in Ningbo Museum and the China Millennium Monument museum from Oct 1 to 31. 

As the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road in East China, Ningbo is an important window of China to the outside world. The launch of the museum is a key project of the city for promoting its cultural exchanges with foreign countries. 

"The museum will focus on a series of teaching and cultural activities to attract more expats studying, working or traveling in Ningbo to help promote China's fine traditional culture and Ningbo's folk culture, and drive the city's cultural exchanges," said Zhang Aiqin, director of the Ningbo Bureau of Culture, Radio, Film, Television and Tourism.

Chinese people and foreigners paint peonies at the museum. [Photo/people.com]

Ms Gillian from Australia (Left), who has learnt Chinese painting from several years, teaches a visitor to paint peonies at the museum. [Photo/people.com]