Mother reproduces ancient painting for girl's college fee

A single mother in Neijiang, Sichuan province, has spent more than three years reproducing an ancient Chinese painting in cross-stitch embroidery to raise money for her daughter's education.

Qian Li hopes somebody will buy the embroidery so she will have money to pay for her daughter's college education in the future, West China Metropolis Daily reported.

Qian lost her job and was divorced nine years ago. She now does odd jobs to support her mother, daughter and herself.

Learning that cross-stitch embroidery could be sold for a high price, Qian started reproducing Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, a painting featuring Kaifeng, capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), in March 2010.

After supper each day, she works on the embroidery till 2 or 3 am. Last month, she finished the reproduction, which shows more than 500 people and 200 buildings. Her reproduction is 4.6 meters long and 0.75 meter wide.

Qian said she feels relaxed now the reproduction is complete. Her only wish is to find a buyer for the embroidery so she will have money to cover her daughter's expenses when she enters college in five years.

Her daughter is a second-grader in junior high school, West China Metropolis Daily said.