American artist astonished after seeing real China

Before traveling to China, American artist Eric Rhoads was bombarded with all sorts of warnings: unsafe food, risky drinking water, threats to personal safety, backward conditions and poor transportation.

He prepared various protective supplies and nervously set off for what he pictured as a "post-apocalyptic wasteland". Yet his stay of over a month revealed a China utterly different from his preconceptions — one that filled him with genuine admiration.

Rhoads is the founder of Fine Art Connoisseur magazine and a key driving force behind the modern plein-air painting revival, with far-reaching influence in global art circles. In June, he was invited to the China (Qingdao) International Watercolor Art Season, where he carried out painted plein air across Qingdao, Shandong province, Chengdu, Sichuan province, and Kunming, Yunnan province.

Misled by numerous Western rumors before departure, Rhoads harbored deep misgivings about China. When he set foot in the country in June, everything exceeded his expectations: modern airports, bustling cities and colorful natural scenery. Above all, the genuine warmth of local Chinese people touched him deeply.

For more than one month, he traveled from Beijing to Qingdao, Chengdu, Kunming and Shanghai.

"I have seen a different China! A dynamic and modern China, a harmonious and beautiful China, an astonishing China," he said.

He wandered through cities and mountain villages, pausing by seascapes and high-altitude plateaus. While painting outdoors, he observed and immersed himself in ordinary people’s daily lives, experiencing the unique cultural identity of this land.

After returning to the United States, Rhoads wrote two essays, The Colors We Choose to See and What China Taught Me. He remarked that many things people take for granted may not be true. He said he hopes more people will look at China — and the wider world — through their own eyes, just as he did.

Please contact the writer at hanjingyan@chinadaily.com.cn