Artist Han Meilin works as hard as 'aged cattle'

A pot by Han Meilin. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The exhibition will then travel to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, where Han was designated the "artist for peace" in October for his charitable work in support of education for youth through his art foundation in Beijing.

The last stop will be at Beijing's National Museum of China, which held his last solo exhibition in 2011.

Bai Yansong, a news presenter for China Central Television and Han's longtime friend, says the lingering charm of Han's art lies in the joyful feeling it gives people who view it.

Han survived the "cultural revolution (1966-76)" and worked hard for four decades to make up for the time that was spent away from art.

He has three galleries named after him that display his works in Beijing, Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang province and Yinchuan city in Ningxia.

He travels extensively for his art foundation in rural China, collecting endangered folk art and merging it into his works.

He donates part of the proceeds to support folk artists he meets en route.