Photo by Jiang Dong / China Daily

Long lines formed despite two-hour waits and 100 yuan ($17) tickets.

About 100,000 viewers visited a show of 10 Western masterpieces, including Renoir's Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette, at the National Museum of China from April to June. The massive interest prompted the museum to extend its hours to 8 pm on selected days.

Central Academy of Fine Arts professor Zhao Li explains Chinese schools teach basic backgrounders about Western artists, including legends like Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso. The exhibitions offer opportunities to view these masters' works.

Chinese artists historically studied in France and, consequently, were deeply influenced by impressionism. Wu Guanzhong (1919-2010), who was among China's first artists to study in France, said his homeland has been influenced by impressionism for about a century.

This, experts say, explains the prominence of impressionists and Barbizon School painters at October's Fine Art Fair in Beijing.

And the organizer says it plans to bring more such art to China in the coming years.