Hongshan International Service Center gives free painting class

The Hongshan International Service Center in Minzhi Subdistrict gave an online class about painting the Nine-colored Deer with quartz sand Saturday, allowing expat attendees to learn more about the Mogao Grottoes as well as how to paint with quartz sand.

To build an international neighborhood and create a multicultural atmosphere, the Hongshan International Service Center has been offering free online and offline Chinese culture classes that are designed to enhance the understanding of Chinese culture as well as promote cultural exchanges between China and overseas countries.

Events held by the center earlier this year explored themes including Chinese painting and Chinese poems. Saturday's event focused on Dunhuang murals. Dunhuang was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road and is best known for the nearby Mogao Grottoes, one of the four famous grotto locations in China and the largest and best preserved Buddhist art treasure house in the world.

The murals in the grottoes are unique, on a huge scale, and reflecting superb skills, rich content and broad themes. With high artistic value, Dunhuang murals not only tells the stories of people in ancient times, but also shows their cultural and social development. Among the Dunhuang frescoes, four auspicious animals were highlighted and one of them is the Nine-colored Deer that represents kindness and promises.

Aleksandra from Russia poses for a photo with her painting during an online Chinese culture class about painting a Nine-colored Deer with quartz sand given by the Hongshan International Service Center in Minzhi Subdistrict on Saturday. Photos courtesy of HISC

Alka Gupta from India poses for a photo with her painting during an online Chinese culture class about painting a Nine-colored Deer with quartz sand given by the Hongshan International Service Center in Minzhi Subdistrict on Saturday. 

Zik from Nigeria poses for a photo with his painting during an online Chinese culture class about painting a Nine-colored Deer with quartz sand given by the Hongshan International Service Center in Minzhi Subdistrict on Saturday. 

Elizabeth Acquaye from Ghana poses for a photo with her painting during an online Chinese culture class about painting a Nine-colored Deer with quartz sand given by the Hongshan International Service Center in Minzhi Subdistrict on Saturday.  

Marilyn from Malaysia poses for a photo with her painting during an online Chinese culture class about painting a Nine-colored Deer with quartz sand given by the Hongshan International Service Center in Minzhi Subdistrict on Saturday.  

Ali Shafi from Pakistan poses for a photo with his painting during an online Chinese culture class about painting a Nine-colored Deer with quartz sand given by the Hongshan International Service Center in Minzhi Subdistrict on Saturday.  

Elizabeth Acquaye from Ghana paints a Nine-colored Deer with quartz sand during an online Chinese culture class given by the Hongshan International Service Center in Minzhi Subdistrict on Saturday.  

Teachers from the Hongshan International Service Center in Minzhi Subdistrict give the class Saturday.  

Teachers from the Hongshan International Service Center in Minzhi Subdistrict give the class Saturday.