What's on

Sports theme

Over 160 sports-themed artworks are on show at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing in a warm up for the upcoming Winter Olympics. The works are mainly from the museum's collection, comprising paintings, prints, sculptures, posters and photos depicting the development of sports in China. The exhibition also shows commissioned works by established artists that hold up the spirit of the Olympic Games and reflect ordinary people's passion for physical exercises. The exhibition ends on Sunday.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Monday. 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6400-1476.

Story of stone

Guangdong Museum has extended its Cultural Exhibition of the Story of Stone, which has been well-received among audiences, up to Feb 15. The show centers on Dream of the Red Chamber, a semi-autobiographical novel that is a Chinese classic, by 18th-century author Cao Xueqin. The exhibition brings together a selection of the novel's copies, related publications and Qing-era artifacts to reflect the social context in which Cao lived and wrote it. Highlights on show include a 128-meter-long colored silk brocade woven in the Nanjing Yunjin craft style that visualizes the novel's major scenarios. New additions to the display are a collection of four ink screen paintings by Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) painter Zhang Mingzhuo.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 2 Zhujiang East Road, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe district, Guangzhou, Guangdong province. 020-3804-6886/6877.

Bronze treasures

Bronze items were made to symbolize sovereignty and order through centuries. An exhibition, Chinese Ancient Bronzeware, at Hunan Museum, shows more than 280 bronze objects of various shapes and for different purposes. It traces the rise of the "bronze age "when the production, use and ownership of bronze was an indication of rigid hierarchy in the Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-771 BC) dynasties. Many exhibits are from the collection of the National Museum of China, including the yue ax that was once used as a weapon and torture device. It has become popular today, because of the openwork carving depicting a human face, with two big round eyes and a widely opened mouth seemingly laughing. The exhibition runs until May 18.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 50 Dongfeng Road, Changsha, Hunan province. 0731-8441-5833.

Tribute to master

Xu Beihong, a preeminent figure of 20th-century Chinese art, was known for rendering a heroic, unyielding spirit to his subjects. The human figures under his brush, whether a mythological character, an ancient philosopher or a rural woman, often sparkle with courage and wisdom. His depictions of other lives, such as roosters crowing in rain, flying birds embracing fierce winds and wounded lions, have also become art symbols. The Peon Art Museum Chongqing is holding a show of its 22 classic paintings and drawings, in tribute to Xu's work depicting people and nature. The exhibition ends on Feb 18.

10-12 am, 1-4:30 pm, closed on Mondays. 70 Panxi Road, Jiangbei district, Chongqing.