The Tribute to Leonardo da Vinci in Beijing runs through Sept 8. [Photo provided to China Daily]

From the exhibition one learns Leonardo excelled at both art and science aided by his keen observational skills and his ability to conceptualize. His Mona Lisa, now at the Louvre in Paris, and The Last Supper in the Convent at Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan are among the best-known examples of Western art, and high-definition copies of both are featured in this exhibition.

One can also get inspiration from copies of his inventive drawings of weapons, flying machines and tanks, not to mention his pioneering work in anatomy with his distinctive backward writing. At a time when life expectancy was short, Leonardo's 67-year lifespan is almost as wondrous as the intellectual output it facilitated.