A lacquer painting designed by Tao Yonghua, a renowned local sculptor, at Nantong West Railway Station [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Nantong West Railway Station, a hub along the Nantong-Shanghai High-speed Railway, is expected to be completed on June 12.

Decorated with four lacquer paintings and 64 red copper bas-reliefs, the station is expected to serve as a window into Nantong's history and culture.

The artworks were all designed by Tao Yonghua, a renowned local sculptor, and took only 22 days to finish.

"It was a great challenge. I spent six days designing and my team produced all the works in just 16 days," said Tao.

The four lacquer paintings feature mountains and waters in Nantong as well as the city's development, while the red copper bas-reliefs are divided into eight series with distinct themes, including Nantong's transportation development, museums and celebrities. Each series consists of eight works, which are placed along walkways in the station.

Tao has been committed to producing sculptures and public artworks for nearly 30 years and has developed his own artistic style which combines sculpture, fresco, traditional Chinese painting, modern art and folk arts.

His works have been displayed at several international events, including the ninth Asia Arts Festival and the Oriental Art Exhibition of the 2017 UN Ocean Conference.