Part of the 1.6-km-long mural unveiled in Chaoyang Park July 21, 2008.

A giant mural measuring almost 1.6 km in length was unveiled in Beijing's Chaoyang Park yesterday.

"The Great Green Wall of China" is made up of 54 separate canvasses, each measuring 10 m by 4 m, and was the brainchild of American artist Robert Wyland.

With its theme of protection for marine life, the work features images of seabirds, polar bears, whales, dolphins and other aquatic beasts.

The official name of the piece is "Hands Across The Oceans" and it was commissioned for the Beijing Games' Cultural Festival.

Wyland worked with a team of designers, as well as Chinese artists and children from local and international schools.

"China faces a lot of environmental challenges, but the Olympics is a great opportunity for these issues to be addressed," he said.

Yesterday, a group of Beijing youngsters helped put the finishing touches to the piece, adding colorful images of fish, whales and octopuses.

"The animals look so happy, it's as though they are saying 'Do not disturb'," Sui Lei, who watched the mural's unveiling, said.

Julia Zhou said she was delighted that her daughter Angie was selected to be part of the team of child painters.

Although she and her husband moved to the United States when Angie was a baby, they flew back when Angie was selected.

"The project is significant, and through it, Angie can contribute to society," Zhou said.

Angie Zhou said: "It's meaningful seeing everyone do their part to care for the Earth."

Other children expressed their thoughts.

Yan Yi Chen, 11, said: "Water is precious. Without it, the fish I painted can't survive."

Artist Yuan Ying, 23, who has a gallery in Shenzhen, also worked on the piece.

He said that while the chance to work on such a large canvas was the initial draw, as the work progressed he found himself becoming more interested in its message.

"I started to see art as a way to express important environmental issues," he said.

Professor Yuan Xikun, a supporter of the project, said: "East and West have joined hands. Regardless of race, language or religion, man and nature are in harmony."

Editor: Liu Fang