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Suzhou prints

An old saying goes in Suzhou, the city of serene mood in Jiangsu province, that "it can't be called a truly (Chinese) New Year when celebrated without buying the traditional woodblock print nianhua (New Year paintings)". In the 17th century, Suzhou rose to become a booming commercial center, equipped with abundant resources and advanced cultures, and the neighborhood of Taohuawu emerged as a production center of woodblock prints, marked with delicate lines, soft color tones and an embodiment of rich cultural meanings. Taohuawu prints, linked to refinement and quality, were traded faraway across the nation and to other parts of the world. The technique was listed a representative national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. Young artist Qiao Lanrong is among those who have been working hard for the revival of this art. A collection of woodblock prints she created around the theme of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese calendar is now on show at Suzhou Museum West. The works present distinctive features of Suzhou's landscapes, life traditions and phenological phenomena all year round. The show ends on May 31.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays.399 Changjiang Road, Gaoxin district, Suzhou, Jiangsu province.0512-6757-1665.