The First China International Culture and Arts Fair opened at the China National Agricultural Exhibition Center in Beijing on Friday. About one thousand paintings created by nearly a hundred artists from home and abroad are being exhibited at the fair.

Paintings of chrysanthemums and pines by famous painter Hu Jieqing, calligraphy works by well-known calligraphers Ouyang Zhongshi and Shen Peng. These works are attracting a lot of visitors.

Different from other art exhibitions, the First China International Culture and Arts Fair mainly show artists' original works of art. Showcasing masterpieces of famous contemporary artists like Wu Zuoren, Shu-fang Hsiao, Huang Yongyu, and Han Meilin, the fair is of high level and large scale.

Shu Yi, Researcher of Central Research Institute of Culture and History said "Most of the paintings exhibited here are created by famous and influential painters. There are also some by painters with great potential. Anyway, this exhibition is a pretty big one."

A series of paintings of ethnic minority subjects are also on show. Besides works by domestic artists, visitors can also enjoy a selection of exotic Russian paintings.

The First China International Culture and Arts Fair will end on Sunday.