Paintings old and new are on display at an exhibition inPutuoDistrict showcasing the art and culture of the Jiangnan region in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

TheJiangnanexhibition of around 50 painting and calligraphy works is on until May next year at theSuningArt Museum with visitors given the opportunity to learn about the region’s natural scenery and culture.

Through theQingDynasty (1644-1911) masterpiece “Folks in four seasons ofHangzhou,” for instance, visitors can get a feel for the traditional lifestyle and customs of people in the city in ZhejiangProvince.

Other key exhibits include the paintings of Ming Dynasty artistWen Zhengming (1470-1559) and art masterZhangDaqian(1899-1983). They depict mountains and rivers, flowers and birds, and lifestyles in theregion in different periods.

Multimedia technologies have been used to revive the scenery of a famous Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368) painting byZhaoYong, which has an inscription written by Emperor Qianlong. The riverbanks, fishing boat and fishermen’s lives are displayed in animations.

In cooperation with the time-honored cosmetics brandXiefuchun, which originated inYangzhou in neighboringJiangsuProvince in 1830, the exhibition has set up art installations featuring traditional rouges and face powders.

The museum on Suzhou Creek has a collection of over 3,000 artworks, mainly paintings, dating back to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). It has received over 200,000 visitors since it opened in November 2017, saidZhouHanyan, director of thePutuoCulture and Tourism Bureau.

“The waterfront of the creek is the birthplace of the city’s cultures and is still the main activity space for local citizens,”Zhouexplained at the exhibition’s opening ceremony yesterday.