Macao stages art exhibition to mark 25th anniversary of its return to motherland

The University of Macao is hosting a special exhibition featuring a comprehensive collection of ancient Chinese paintings to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.

Sponsored and organized by the University of Macao and the Zhejiang University from the mainland, the "Compilation of Classics in the Flourishing Age – The Exhibition of Achievements in Compiling" aims to showcase the culture and the aesthetic pursuit of the Chinese nation to teachers and students of the university and all citizens living in the special administrative region.

In three sections with different cultural themes, nearly 500 pieces of paintings and calligraphy are on display at the exhibition, running from Dec 1, 2024 to Feb 9, 2025.

"On this significant occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of Macao's return, we want to contribute in our own way at the University of Macao, using academic and artistic means to educate both our students and all citizens of Macao about the culture of the motherland," said Li Jun, head of the Department of Arts and Design at the University of Macao.

The "Compilation of Classics in the Flourishing Age" is a major national cultural project with unprecedented scale, spanning history and crossing borders.

Launched in 2005, the project runs through nearly 20 years, compiling 226 books in 60 volumes and embracing more than 12,400 Chinese paintings from the pre-Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.-207 B.C.) to the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The collection includes the vast majority of surviving national treasures of Chinese paintings.

Since 2021, the very exhibition of achievements in compiling has been touring various cities in the country.

"I've learned that organizing this exhibition is time-consuming and laborious, especially in terms of scanning artworks from various museums and recovering lost works from private collections. I am deeply grateful and touched to have this opportunity with the help of the platform and resources of the University of Macao to see so many masterpieces," said Lam Ieng Yi, a student with the University of Macao.

Macao stages art exhibition to mark 25th anniversary of its return to motherland

President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Yamandu Orsi said that his recent trip to China had given him a genuine sense of the country, adding that seeing the real China makes it easier to build trust and forge stronger bonds.

Orsi made his first state visit to China from Feb 1 to 7. In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), he said the first word that came to mind was "gratitude" or "thanks," in describing his feelings about the trip.

"Looking back on the past and at the present moment, I would say that I have truly experienced the real China. That sense of realness grows out of a dream. At this moment, I can deeply feel that I am in contemporary China, a country that carries forward a long and unbroken history. I have said before that whether in the past, the present or the future, the world needs to know the real China. Beyond my profound gratitude, what I feel most strongly is that I have genuinely experienced the real China," said Orsi.

Orsi said that a deeper understanding of China could help strengthen ties, adding that entrepreneurs and representatives who accompanied him stressed the need to advance cooperation with a country they regard as trustworthy and reliable.

"When people truly come to know the real China, it becomes easier to build trust and to forge the strongest bonds. The image your country presents is so clear and transparent, and in today's global landscape, that is a tremendous advantage. It is precisely for this reason that more than 100 entrepreneurs and representatives from various sectors immediately decided to accompany me to China. They have also expressed the belief that it is necessary to move forward in cooperation with a country and a people that are trustworthy and can continue to be trusted over time," said Orsi.

Recent state visit offers genuine view of China: Uruguayan president