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Natural attraction

The genre of paintings depicting flowers and birds, which emerged in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), continues to enthrall viewers today, due to their vivid reproductions of plants, animals, fruits, insects and sometimes mythological creatures. Auspicious Blossoming, an exhibition set to run through March 28 at the Nanjing Museum, shows a selection of fine paintings from the museum's collection, navigating how ancient artists practiced with the style to improve their techniques. The flower-and-bird paintings not only capture the lively scenery all year round to deliver blessings, they also show a painter's cultural accumulations as one often used the subjects as metaphors for hidden emotions and their views on social issues.

9 am-5 pm, Tuesday-Sunday. 321 Zhongshan Donglu, Xuanwu district, Nanjing, Jiangsu province.025-8480-7923.