The Ministry of Culture called Xiaoxian county, in Anhui province, the "Home of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy" back in 1993. Its painting and calligraphy have a long history and can be traced back more than 4,000 years. Its artwork had already become famous as far back as the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).

Many great artists were born and brought up in the region, including Wang Ziyun, Wang Qingfang, Wang Zhaomin and Liu Kaiqu. The area is home to more than 29 calligraphy and painting schools and 31 societies. The Xiaoxian County Academy of Painting and Calligraphy, established in 1981, is among the oldest of its kind in the country.

More than 40,000 people there excel at painting or calligraphy. Four hundred of them are members of calligraphy or painting associations at a provincial level or above. The county has two published journals, the Classical Longcheng Style of Painting and the Overview of Xiao County Culture.

There is a calligraphy and painting street where more than 100 businesses sells rare materials as well as create, decorate, package, exhibit and market artistic works.

Xiaoxian is currently building the Calligraphy and Painting Exposition Center, which will include an auction store, museum, and exhibition hall. It will be the largest trade center of its kind in China.

By Li Xiaonan(chinadaily.com.cn)