Chinese New Year wood paintings, hisoric blessings

Nian Hua, or Chinese New Year paintings, dating back to early rock carvings, are used to decorate the walls doors, and windows of homes during the spring festival to bring blessings of good luck and fortune.

With a history of more than 2000 years, Chinese New Year painting is now more of a folk art than house decoration. Shandong, Tianjin and Suzhou customarily produce most of the the paintings.

Hosted by Guangzhou Museum and Qingdao (capital of Shandong) Museum, over 80 exhibits were brought to Guangzhou Museum and will remain for two months starting Dec. 29.

Including Blessings Chinese gods, legends of theatre, daily life and auspicious flowers, the four topics portray the old Chinese New Year paintings from the Qing dynasty to the Republic of China.

Time: Dec 30 to Feb 29

Venue: Guangzhou Museum

Address: Yuexiu Park, metro line two at Yuexiu Park station

Admission: RMB 10

Make a piece of Nian Hua: 1 paint one color on the wood; 2 put a piece of Xuanzhi (rice paper) on the wood; 3 press the paper; 4 finish the artwork by repeating printing five colors on - yellow, blue, green, red and black.