What's on

'People's artist'

Late modern painter Liu Wenxi is often hailed as "an artist of the people", for his realistic style of painting that documented the lives of ordinary Chinese in the 20th century. Art for People, an ongoing exhibition at the National Museum of China through Nov 1, pays tribute to Liu's accomplishments. On show are more than 200 paintings, drawings and sketches, as well as manuscripts and photos, reviewing his lifelong dedication to grassroots society. Liu spent most of his time in Northwest China, where he traveled and sketched in remote villages. His paintings capture the appearances and emotions of farmers, and show developments in their lives through the decades. Some of the works were created on long scrolls and are on show in public for the first time.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 16 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6511-6400.

Poetry and mystery

Chen Shuxia's namesake solo exhibition at the Hubei Museum of Art in Wuhan shows her works on canvas that are exuberant with serenity, poetry and a mysterious touch. Beneath the peaceful atmosphere in her works are hidden feelings of uncertainty, anxiety and sorrow. The show, which runs through Oct 31, displays Chen's abstract and surrealistic approach to landscapes and figures which she draws based on daily experiences.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays.68 Huangli Road, Wuchang district, Wuhan, Hubei province. 027-8679-6060.

Reviving tradition

The longstanding tradition of making nianhua paintings and prints during Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, embodies wishes and blessings for the future by generations of Chinese. It was a booming business centuries back, when workshops in different regions developed various styles and skills, and many of these vintage works are now collected and studied by art museums. An exhibition at the art gallery of the China Millennium Monument shows works by students from the Academy of Arts and Design of Tsinghua University, who, under the guidance of veteran artisans and teachers, introduce new styles, techniques and forms to give the tradition a contemporary look. On show are paintings, creative products and graphic designs that convey a passion to usher old crafts into the modern age.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays.9A Fuxing Road, Haidian district, Beijing. 010-8418-7900.

Real-unreal set

Li Qing: Lighthouse and Cradle, an exhibition that's on until Oct 27 at Tang Contemporary Art's spaces in Beijing's 798 art zone, shows the artist's noticeable works, including Window, Spot the Difference and Hangzhou House, as well as his most recent creations. It offers a new look at the images, symbols and stories from real life, which intertwine in the artist's work in an unusual, striking manner. The works are shown in two separate spaces across one street. One space is redesigned as a maze, with the works on show in several nested chambers, and the other is a tent on the ground that looks like a light swaying over the sea. Visitors can feel both inspiration and confusion amid the "real-unreal" installations.

B01&D06, 798 art zone, 2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-5978-9610.