A photo of the Rongyutang edition of Water Margin, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). By Shi Naian and Luo Guanzhong. [Photo/China Daily]

As Chinese publishers, writers and illustrators attend the 55th Bologna Children's Book Fair as guests of honor for the first time, besides the original titles they brought with them, they are also offering the residents of the northern Italian city a glimpse of Chinese culture and life.

At Bologna City Hall, an exhibition, titled Chinese Ancient Illustrations Art Exhibition, held over March 25-29, attracted many of the local Bolognese as well as tourists.

It is said that the illustrations were a form of ancient Chinese art, whose origins can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). One item in the precious collection is from The Diamond Sutra, one of the earliest illustrated of books in China.

A photo of the Poems of the Masters, Song Dynasty (960-1279). Compiled by Xie Fangde. [Photo/China Daily]

The organizers spent more than two years collecting and preparing for the exhibition. The book depicts Bodhisattvas, supernatural beings, wise men such as Confucius and Lao-tzu, plants, animals, rivers, and mountains, as well as customs and rites for weddings and funerals, science and weaponry, and astrological predictions for farming and personal life.

Key scenes and figures from classical literature are also portrayed, such as the Monkey King from Journey to the West, the Grand View Garden from Dream of the Red Chamber, and Zhuge Liang from Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Deputy mayor of the city Marco Lombardo said at the opening ceremony of the exhibition on March 25: "This is a wonderful chance for our citizens to learn about Chinese illustration and its long history, and to enjoy its charm, and get to know a friendly country better."