Pride of place, over time

The National Exhibition of Fine Arts has been held every five years since 1949 to offer the public a glimpse of diverse artists' exploration of various media and, more importantly, their reflections on social development and shifts in people's mentality.

The national exhibition was first staged in Beijing in July 70 years ago, as a sideline event of the national congress of representatives of literary and art circles, three months before the ceremony declaring New China's founding.

It showed more than 600 paintings, woodcuts, sculptures, sketches, comics and pieces of folk art for two weeks at the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

Its conclusion was followed by the founding of the China Artists Association, which took over organization of the national exhibition in the following decades.

Artists across the country submit works to a jury.

Entrant pieces are displayed at subdivision exhibitions in several cities. Each is dedicated to different categories, such as classical Chinese painting, calligraphy, oil painting and sculpture.

The finalists will enter the national exhibition, usually held in Beijing, which serves as the climax and curtain call of the yearlong event.