Ink vitality

At 90, ink artist Cui Zhenkuan continues to rejuvenate the timeless tradition of Chinese ink painting. Noble and Glorious, an exhibition now underway at Zhejiang Art Museum, in Hangzhou, traces the evolution of his five-decade career through a striking selection of works on paper, on display until Nov 30.Renowned for his mastery of the jiaomo (dried ink) technique — where dense, layered washes evoke monumental landscapes — Cui's art channels the vastness and vitality of Northwest China, where he grew up. The exhibition features his recent works, including an ink ball installation reflecting his pursuit of a state of harmony and self-perfection. This is the third stop of the traveling show, following its runs in Beijing and Nanjing, Jiangsu province, earlier this year.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 138 Nanshan Lu, Hangzhou. 0571-8707-8700.

Timeless elegance

In 1988, archaeologists near Taiyuan, Shanxi province, uncovered a noble's tomb dating to the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), revealing a trove of exquisite artifacts. Among them, a bronze gourd-shaped vessel stood out for its masterful design and cultural resonance. Now the centerpiece of an ongoing exhibition, The Inborn Elegance of a Gourd-Form Vessel, at the Henan Museum in Zhengzhou, this intricate kettle — adorned with motifs of birds, tigers, and fine chainwork — reflects the fusion of Central Plains craftsmanship and nomadic artistry. The exhibition, running until Dec 21, invites visitors to admire the refinement and symbolic richness of early Chinese bronze art.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 8 Nongye Lu, Jinshui district, Zhengzhou, Henan province. 0371-6539-3166.

Dynamic harmony

As a student at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Yuan Yunsheng was guided by masters who instilled in him not only technique, but reverence for the life force of Chinese art. He has upheld that ethos throughout his prolific career, embracing experimentation across forms and media. Disorder and Coexistence, his current solo exhibition at Tang Contemporary Art in Beijing's 798 Art Zone, surveys decades of creation charged with vitality and cultural depth. Curated by Cui Cancan, the show reveals Yuan's shift from visual complexity toward expressive simplicity — echoing the minimalism and spiritual clarity at the heart of Chinese aesthetics. The exhibition is on view until Dec 10.

10 am-6 pm, closed on Mondays. B01, 798 Art Zone, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang district, Beijing.