Yellow chrysanthemum By Pan Yuliang   Queen of the night By T. Annanolli   Apricot flower & rain By Cui Ruzhuo     Former Chairman of China Artists Association and renowned oil painter Jin Shangyi (left) views some of the displays at the expo.[Photo/China Daily]

The 2014 China Art Industry Expo opened in Beijing's Tongzhou district on Monday, welcoming visitors with a wide variety of artworks and related deals during the upcoming National Day holidays.

There are several highlights of the expo:

The ongoing event presents a large number of artworks by famous masters. Some of the items on display include works by Chinese painters Qi Baishi (1864-1957), Wu Changshuo (1844-1927), Lin Fengmian (1900-1991) and Fu Baoshi (1904-1965).

Items on display have arrived from all over the world. The major exhibition hall in Songzhuang presents top-tier artworks from more than 80 countries.

The expo spans art that was created over half a century. Some of the outstanding works include the Tree Art Gallery's exhibition on the China Pavilion at the 55th Venice Biennale, and an art and calligraphy show from contemporary Taiwan in Guozhong Art Gallery.

More than 300 artists from over 120 art organizations are taking part in the exposition.

Italian painter Tiberiano Marilli demonstrates his painting skills.

Some of China's intangible heritage, including traditional handicrafts, is also on display. This year's exhibition is not limited to small groups of fans, but aims to attract the general public.

This year the exhibition has expanded from the Songzhuang area to more of Tongzhou district.

Newly established exhibition venues include Han Meilin Art Gallery, Art Dagao, the art gallery for canal porcelain and the Hanlin folk art museum.

Officials expect the art expo to help generate a large number of programs related to the industry and art foundations.

Among them is "Art Youth Plus" that aims to foster artistic talent in younger generations.

 

IF YOU GO

2014 China Art Industry Expo

Location: Songzhuang, Tongzhou district, Beijing.

Directions: Take Jingtong Expressway and Tongyan Expressway to the Songzhuang exit, then turn left at Dinggezhuangqiao. Drive north along Songliang Road and then Xusong Road to get to the art museums at the expo area.

Bus & Subway: Take Bus 808 and 809 at the Dabeiyao Station near Subway Line 1 and Line 10 at the International Trade Center to Songzhuang Station or Xiaobao Art Dongjie. The art community covers seven stations of the bus.

Or take subway line 8T to Tongzhou Beiyuan Station and take a taxi.

Hours: 10 am－5 pm, Sept 29 to Oct 5

THE RISE OF TONGZHOU

Tongzhou in southeast Beijing is considered the capital's eastern gate.

At the north end of Grand Canal and the east end of Chang'an Avenue, the district is 37 kilometers wide from east to west and 48 km from north to south, covering an area of 906 square kilometers, some 5.55 percent of Beijing's total. Tongzhou has 11 towns and four communities with a combined population of 870,000.

At the core of the Bohai Sea Economic Circle, Tongzhou is neighbored by Tianjin municipality and Hebei province.

It is near the Central Business District in Beijing, 13 km from the International Trade Center, 20 km from Tian'amen Square, 16 km from Capital International Airport and 110 km to Tianjin New Harbor.

At the east end of the Chang'an Avenue axis and the East Development Belt, it is both a sustainable development zone and an important site for strategic growth in Beijing. It is expected to take on an essential role as a new district and develop into a sub-center of the captial.

Songzhuang is an emerging area of the district due to its art sector.

Its art colony is the most famous and biggest artist community in Beijing, home to thousands of artists.

Growing from a village in remote areas near Hebei province and originally representing the avant-garde, the area now accommodates artists who paint in varying styles ranging from modernist to the academic. Sculptors and photographers also call the area home.