What's on

Two generations

People born in the 1980s are the first generation in China to be tagged with a term related to their birth years. The term now carries cultural and social implications－members of the post-80 generation grew up in a social context different from their parents and grandparents, therefore they have formed a different outlook on life. Studies on this generation continue even after people born in the 1990s have grown up. I Recognize the World－Born in the 1980s and '90s, an ongoing exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Yinchuan, in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region of Northwest China, teams up 21 artists to provide a glimpse of the two generations. The display of paintings, sculptures, installations, mixed media and experimental art reflects the different perspectives of those born in the two decades. The show runs through Jan 9.

10 am-5 pm, Tue-Sun. 12 Hele Road, Xingqing district, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region.0951-842-6111, 1999-512-0237.

Cliff inscriptions

Moya, or inscriptions carved on polished cliffs, are a distinctive, centuries-old art form in China. People in ancient times believed that common media for writing, such as bamboo, paper and silk, would be easily ruined, while stones and rocks would help to preserve characters. They carved, often in large sizes, inscriptions on cliffs and mountains so as to inform and educate people of the future about the past and noted figures and their accomplishments. Yongzhou in Hunan province of Central China is reputed for its moya cliff inscriptions, serving as an example of fine calligraphy with historical and cultural significance. A long-term exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing shows a selection of rubbings of moya writings and characters from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to modern times. Yongzhou was the habitat and destination of traveling of several established artists and intellectuals such as Liu Zongyuan the noted writer and politician who lived between the eighth and ninth centuries. And the works on show reflect the cultural attainment of some of these figures and their social concerns. When one gazes at the writings on show, one can picture a stroll along the original landscapes, as well as the natural scenery of Yongzhou, which nourished the minds of people centuries before.

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

Women's art

The He Xiangning and China Women Artists Association exhibition, held at the He Xiangning Art Museum in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, introduces the cultural scene in early 20th-century China and a booming art movement promoted by female painters at the time. The exhibition that runs through Nov 21 shows how a group of well-educated, art-loving women used art to express themselves, to demonstrate their pursuit of freedom, and to address social concerns. On show are 12 noted artists from different backgrounds who are placed in three categories: their experiences, art styles and life goals. He Xiangning and Yu Feng, who were reformers and social activists, have been included in one group. Their art promotes social reform and national progress. Another group consists of women who came from well-to-do families and were versatile artists. They practiced art as a means of leading a self-made life, pursuing a new identity as educated women with social status. The third group is that of women who were trained in both classical Chinese painting and Western art－some even studied and lived abroad for a time－and they worked to bridge Chinese and Western cultures as they wanted to bring a new look to the home culture.

9 am-5 pm, Tue-Sun. 9013 Shennan Dadao, Nanshan district, Shenzhen, Guangdong province.0755-2660-4540, 2691-8118.