The Woodblock Painting Museum in Qidong. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_36f5c871cac4]

The Woodblock Painting Museum in Qidong, Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, is the first of its kind in Jiangsu.

After 22 years of preparation, the museum finally opened to the public in July 2021 and it exhibits 83 classic woodblock paintings in Qidong as well as tools used by local artists.

Exhibits at the Woodblock Painting Museum in Qidong. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_36f5c871cac4]

The earliest woodblock paintings originated from wood engravings in China. They were used to print Buddhist texts and promote Buddhism during the Sui (581-618) and Tang Dynasties (618-907).

After the Song Dynasty (960-1279), woodblock paintings started focusing on astronomy, geography, and wildlife.

A woodblock painting by Zhao Yannian depicting Lu Xun is on display at the Woodblock Painting Museum in Qidong. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

During the late years of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), traditional woodblock paintings declined in China with the introduction of advanced technologies from western countries.

Promoted by Lu Xun, a famous Chinese writer, thinker and revolutionary whose real name is Zhou Shuren, woodblock paintings experienced resurgence in China in the 1930s, and many artists began creating such artworks.

Woodblock paintings in contemporary China feature various materials and themes as well as different production techniques.

Address: No 600 Huangpujiang Road, Qidong