Around China

Chongqing

69 paintings sent to 'museum staff'

A couple pretending to be staff of the National Museum stole 69 paintings from an unsuspecting painter in Chongqing between August last year and March. Chinese painter Fang Fengfu, known for his unique grape paintings, received a call from a woman in Beijing claiming the museum was planning an exhibition and desk calendar. She wanted to use his work. Police in Beibei district recently detained the couple in Guangdong province and recovered all of the paintings.