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
Commemorations honoring Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs were held on the banks of the Yalu River in Dandong, Liaoning Province on Tuesday as part of ongoing tributes to those who fought in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953).
The event was held to mark the return of the remains of 12 CPV martyrs, who were killed in the war, from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.
This will be the 13th such repatriation of CPV remains following the handover agreement between the two countries. Since 2014, the remains of 1,011 soldiers have been returned to China from the ROK, according to China's Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
More than 170 representatives, including veteran CPV soldiers, relatives of the martyrs, active-duty personnel, students, and other from various sectors of society, attended the event.
People boarded a ferry which slowly sailed down the Yalu River. Inside the cabin, all present stood in solemn silence as the national anthem of the People's Republic of China was played, and observed a moment of silence in honor of the CPV martyrs.
Then, they walked to the ship's railings one by one and scattered flower petals into the river to pay tribute to the martyrs.
"We, the CPV, went abroad to fight to defend our motherland, the people, and our good life and to resist U.S. imperialist aggression against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). I hope that our young comrades and students today will study hard and make contributions to our motherland," said Hu Changzhe, a CPV veteran.
"I feel deeply moved as these veteran soldiers are heroes who once fought for our country. Now, standing by the Yalu River, looking back on their past and remembering their comrades, they must be deeply touched," said Hong Jialu, a student at a branch of Liaoning Province Shiyan High School.
At the event, 10 student representatives from primary and middle schools read aloud a letter to express their reverence and remembrance for the heroic martyrs through their sincere words and heartfelt recitation.
The Korean War broke out in June 1950, eight months after the People's Republic of China was founded. At the request of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), China sent 2.9 million CPV soldiers to assist the DPRK during the war, of whom more than 360,000 were killed or injured.
Commemorations held to pay tribute to CPV heroes in northeast China
