Zhejiang University donates the collection to the British Library. [Photo/Zhejiang University]

Zhejiang University donated its monumental art publication A Comprehensive Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings to the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, known as the "mother of art academies", on May 24, marking the latest milestone in the project's global cultural journey.

The donation ceremony underscored the shared beauty of Chinese and Italian art traditions, with Chinese Consul General in Florence Yin Qi praising the project as a vivid embodiment of mutual respect and harmony between civilizations.

Compiled over two decades by Zhejiang University and the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, the collection spans 60 volumes and 226 books, digitally restoring and preserving ancient Chinese works from around the world.

Since 2012, over 240 cultural institutions, including the US Library of Congress, UNESCO, the British Library, and the University of Tokyo, have received this collection, establishing it as a vital bridge between Chinese civilization and the world.

Each donation strengthens academic and cultural cooperation. In Florence, the gift represents a deeper partnership with Italian academia. In Belgium, KU Leuven integrated the collection into its Chinese Studies curriculum and launched co-authored research on cultural dissemination. At Oxford, the Bodleian Library's East Asia section welcomed the full set, furthering studies in Chinese art and visual culture.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (in green) receives the collection from Zhejiang University. [Photo/Zhejiang University]

Beyond institutions, the collection has resonated with scholars, students, and overseas Chinese communities. Experts at Harvard, University of London, and Zurich University hailed its scholarly precision, while public readers described it as a source of cultural identity and pride.

The initiative also sparked broader academic collaboration. Conferences, joint publications, and cultural programs linked to the collection have emerged at institutions such as Cambridge, Lisbon, and Sharjah. Plans are underway to explore digital exhibitions, interactive platforms, and youth co-creation projects to make traditional Chinese art more accessible globally.

Zhejiang University has now donated the collection to 38 universities and is expanding to new regions in 2025. As ink meets paper, the collection continues its global voyage — quietly but powerfully enriching the dialogue between East and West.

Visitors look at a Song Dynasty (960-1279) painting from the collection at the University of Cambridge. [Photo/Zhejiang University]