Venice artworks on display in Beijing

When famed Italian traveler Marco Polo returned home to Venice from his travels in China in the 13th century, he wrote of his experiences in a book 'The Travels of Marco Polo.' It was the start of a strong bond between China and Italy's "city of water."

Now, an exhibition capturing this special bond is on display at the Museum of Chinese Gardens and Landscape Architecture in Beijing.

The exhibition in Beijing's Fengtai district includes 100 relics from five museums from Venice.

From oil paintings, to painted potteries, to 16th century sculptures and glassware, every item illustrates the splendor of Venice.

"This is our first time cooperating with international museums that focus on antiques. This is a very comprehensive exhibition where the visitor can get a sense of Venice from every aspect, learning about their lifestyle, artistry, and skill sets like this iron prow-head of the gondola behind me. It's very elaborate and represents the social rank of the person it was carrying," said Huang Yigong, deputy director of Museum of Chinese Gardens & Landscape Architecture.

Chinese visitors may notice certain familiarities when looking at the Italian antiques. For example, a vase is an example of a trend that was popular in Europe, when artisans tried to imitate Chinese patterns. The vase is made of glass using a special technique vase makers from Venice were very skilled at.

The artifacts demonstrate the city's economic, artistic and cultural achievements from the Renaissance to the late 19th century. The museum's deputy director said they receive around 500 visitors on a daily basis.

"I came today with my daughter and wanted to experience something different. We don't get a chance to travel outside of China that often, so I'm very glad I can learn about Italy through this exhibition," visitor Wu Zhining said.

"It's my first time coming to an exhibition like this. It's so wonderful to see how these people lived, and the things they created. I can feel their culture and innovation through these works," visitor Wang Yaxuan said.

The Museum of Chinese Gardens and Landscape Architecture was established in 2010 and has hosted the China International Garden Expo in the past. The exhibition on Venice will run until September 21.

http://www.ecns.cn/2014/08-21/130802.shtml