The 10th "Insight of China - Workshop for Well-known Arab Artists in China" exhibition opens in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sept 10. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

The 10th "Insight to China - Workshop for Well-known Arab Artists in China" exhibition opened in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Sept 10, displaying 40 paintings by 11 Arab artists from Lebanon, Kuwait, Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

The artworks, richly infused with Chinese cultural elements, showcase the experiences of the artists during a five-day trip through the province. Among the themes of the paintings were Chinese characters, food and architecture.

"In Tunisia, we don't have tables with wheels like China has, which I think represents the unique food culture of China," said one of the artists.

Zhou Xiaosong, vice professor of the China Academy of Art, hailed the Arabic paintings as "enlightening".

Traditional depictions of the Jiangnan, the region south of the Yangtze River, use black ink wash. These artworks present a more colourful Jiangnan, he said, adding that the cultural exchange program betters communication between China and Arabic countries.

Backed by the Chinese Ministry of Culture, the program has been successfully held annually for nine years. It has evolved into an important brand for China's cultural exchange with other nations.

An artist poses with his painting at the exhibition in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sept 10. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

A painting depicts Chinese tables with wheels at an exhibition in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sept 10. [Photo/Chinanews.com]