Tribute to an artistic pioneer

The ink-brush paintings are among the works by Guan Shanyue on show at the ongoing exhibition Infinite Ranges of Mountains at the National Museum of China in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

After the foundation of New China in 1949, Guan traveled extensively so that he could "confront" the changing landscape of the country and the new life of people.

Among his many paintings showing the country's progress are four similar paintings all titled Green Great Wall in the 1970s.

The paintings show stretches of trees along the coast of southern China to prevent windstorms.

One of the four paintings is now on show.

Xue says that in this work Guan hailed the idea that the progress could be achieved only when people knew how to be in harmony with nature.

If you go

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays, through Nov 23. National Museum of China, 16 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6511-6400.