Personal items of famous Qing scholar on show

[Photo provided to China Daily]

A memorial to the throne is among the show's highlights.

Most earlier exhibitions on Weng covered his calligraphy, but this exhibition presents a wider frame on him.

"If visitors aren't all fans of calligraphy, they might find an entire show on calligraphy a bit boring. But that won't happen with this show," she says.

For example, 24 sets of his colorful porcelain collection are also on display. The pieces were made during the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1875-1908), representing the best porcelain works of the time.

Some sketches of the landscape in Changshu are also among the exhibits.

"Most artworks were drawn in response to invitations, but the impromptu sketches which were created in a cozy atmosphere seem to best reflect a person's mind," says Qian.

"We can feel Weng's optimistic attitude toward life despite his political troubles."

According to Zhou Ming, deputy director of Art Exhibition China, which is an affiliate of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the event is part of its projects to introduce scattered resources in local museums to higher platforms, though the organization used to focus on Sino-foreign cultural exchange shows.

"Many cultural treasures are hidden in small-scale museums, but it is significant to share them with more people to improve the public's understanding of history and fine art," says Zhou.

If you go

9 am-4:30 pm, closed on Mondays, through May 10. Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum, 24 Wutasi Village, Haidian district, Beijing. 010-6217-3543.