By Dr. Mark A. Rafter, Editorial Director
Part of an ongoing series introducing contemporary Chinese artists and cultural heritage to international audiences.
For more than four centuries, the Shenyang Imperial Palace has stood as a powerful symbol of history and as the birthplace of the Qing Dynasty. Located in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province and the largest metropolis in Northeast China with more than 9 million residents, the palace represents a remarkable chapter in China’s cultural heritage.
The Shenyang Imperial Palace was built in 1625 and originally served as the imperial residence of the early Qing rulers. After Beijing became the national capital, Shenyang was recognized as the “Secondary Capital.” In 1926, what was then the Mukden Palace was transformed into the Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum, which opened to the public in 1929. The historic complex was officially recognized as a major cultural institution in 1955.
This summer, these historic halls welcomed one of China’s most accomplished contemporary artists as part of the celebration marking the centennial of the founding of the Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum.
The grand opening ceremony and academic seminar for “Beyond Imagery Form: Zhang Hui’s Freehand Flower-and-Bird Painting Exhibition” were held at the Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum on July 2, 2026. The exhibition was presented in the Shishan and Xiezhong House courtyards, traditional architectural spaces that provided a historic and inspiring setting for more than 100 works of traditional Chinese art.
Professor Zhang Hui, a prominent artist and educator from the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, is one of Northeast China’s most respected contemporary painters and scholars. He is widely recognized for his mastery of Xieyi Huaniao, the traditional Chinese freehand flower-and-bird painting style often translated as “sketching thoughts.”
Through expressive and spontaneous brushwork, Zhang Hui captures not only the physical appearance of flowers, birds, and nature, but also their spiritual essence, emotional atmosphere, and inner vitality. Deeply rooted in traditional Chinese artistic philosophy, his work creates a dialogue between historical techniques and the contemporary artistic spirit.
The exhibition brought together more than 100 artists and distinguished guests from China and abroad, along with more than 400 visitors attending the opening events.
The exhibition is the largest solo exhibition by a contemporary master of freehand flower-and-bird painting ever presented at the Shenyang Imperial Palace. It features one of the most extensive collections and highest-caliber selections of artwork displayed in the museum’s history.
Among the featured masterpieces are “One Hundred Monkeys,” “Ode to Orchids and Bamboos,” and “The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals,” along with numerous large-scale sketches and other celebrated works. These paintings have received widespread appreciation from collectors and art enthusiasts.
The opening ceremony welcomed distinguished leaders, artists, scholars, collectors, and cultural representatives who participated in speeches and the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Among the distinguished guests were:
Zheng Qingwei, Director of Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum; Zhang Hui, Exhibiting Artist and Professor at Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts; Zhao Bin, Dean of the Chinese Painting School, Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts; Li Zhongyuan, renowned art critic and Honorary Director of Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum; Xu Yong, celebrated calligrapher and painting artist; Feng Dazhong, Honorary Chairman of the China Fine Brushwork Painting Society and renowned painter; Wang Yini, Chairman of Liaoning Artists Association; Hu Chongwei, Chairman of Liaoning Calligraphers Association; Jiang Xiaoqin, former Member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and former Vice Chairman of Liaoning Provincial Committee of the CPPCC; Ge Benliang, former Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee, former spokesperson of Liaoning Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People’s Government; Li Baoquan, former Vice Mayor of Shenyang City; and Li Qian, former Deputy Secretary-General of Liaoning Provincial Party Committee.
Additional attending leaders, artists, collectors, and distinguished guests included Lv Ziyang, Wang Hong, Zhao Baoping, Wang Jian, Zhao Lixin, Shi Suomin, Su Deyong, Li Yang, Zhu Chengguo, Zhao Bohai, Lu Lin, Wang Xin, Fu Honglie, Xu Ping, You Zhichao, Li Xuewei, Bai Sulan, Lu Zhixue, Qi Guanliang, Luan Rang, Liu Dongying, Song Huiying, Yang Deheng, Yang Haibin, Yang Baolin, Dong Xun, Shangguan Zhenzhen, Qiu Taoyuan, and Zhang Jieyou.
Professor Zhang Hui’s student, Zhu Junying, traveled from the United States to Shenyang to participate in this historic event. Known by many friends and the Modern-Day Marco Polo in America as “Kevin.” Mr. Zhu is not only a master artist but also a community leader dedicated to strengthening China-U.S. relationships through people-to-people cooperation, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding.
[PHOTO – Professor Zhang Hui and Zhu Junying]
The exhibition will run from July 2 through July 30, 2026. Organizers believe thousands of visitors will come to experience these celebrated works of art and the unique cultural atmosphere of the Shenyang Imperial Palace.
For me, as the Modern-Day Marco Polo, one of my greatest adventures began in 2007 when Shenyang became the first city in China I visited. During that journey, I walked through the Shenyang Imperial Palace and toured the Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum searching for treasures—not treasures of gold or silver, but treasures of art, culture, history, and most importantly, the friendships created between people and nations.
Those connections remain the greatest treasures I have discovered and continue to bring me back to China.
Dr. Mark A. Rafter
The Modern-Day Marco Polo
