Hands of dexterity

Abundant resources of wood and bamboo around Huizhou, in modern-day Huangshan, Anhui province, gave rise to the region's tradition of the four types of carvings — stone, brick, bamboo, and wood — hallmarks of Huizhou's craftsmanship.

Over time, the culture of the whole Jiangnan region along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River endowed these crafts with further depth.

The Path of Mastery, an exhibition at the National Art Museum of China celebrating the heritage of handicrafts, is currently showcasing Huizhou-style wood and bamboo carvings created by Hong Jianhua. Working with materials found in nature, he creates miniature worlds infused with scholarly aesthetics, which he has continually refined under the influence of the late scholar and connoisseur Wang Shixiang's book about bamboo carving. The exhibition will run until Saturday.

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