70-year-old earns her second arts degree

A 70-year-old Shanghai woman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese Painting at the China Academy of Arts in June. This was her second college degree.

Xu Anling, who lives in Jinshan district's Zhujing town, has loved painting and pencil sketching since she was a child. However, due to her hectic career, she rarely had the chance to pursue this passion till she retired at the age of 58.

In 2009, Xu enrolled herself in a five-year painting program at the China Academy of Arts. In 2013, she was admitted to the adult junior college class of the Chinese Academy of Arts before graduating in 2016.

Not satisfied with having only a junior college degree, Xu took part in the National Unified Examination for College Admissions for Adults in 2017 and was admitted to the calligraphy program offered by the China Academy of Arts. In 2019, she received her first bachelor's degree.

According to Xu, the first day of calligraphy class left a deep impression on her when she walked into the classroom filled with young students in their early 20s. Many thought Xu was the parent of a classmate.

Determined to do well, Xu spent much of her time in school practicing her skills. She had even spent some nights on campus because it was too late to return home by the time she finished practicing. A few years later, she enrolled in another degree course to learn Chinese painting.

Today, besides being a proud senior citizen who is the holder of two arts degrees, Xu also runs a studio in Zhujing town where she showcases her works.