Chinese wood engraving exhibition opens in Kazakhstan

An exhibition showcasing Chinese wood engraving pictures opened Wednesday here in the Central National Museum of Kazakhstan.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, deputy curator Beybitkali Kakabayev described the wood engraving pictures as a reflection of the long, rich and colorful history of the Chinese culture.

Coinciding with the advent of the Chinese Lantern Festival, the exhibition opened a precious window for the Kazakh people to " touch Chinese culture from zero distance," said Kakabayev.

Hundreds of visitors, among them senior citizens, celebrities from the artistic circle and college students studying Chinese, poured into the exhibition hall. Many people filed in the " Picture DIY workshop," trying to make their own pictures with instructions from the staff.

Seven-year-old Yerbol jostled out of the crowd, sweat trickling down his face. He eagerly displayed a picture called Little Tiger before his beaming mother. "Look! This is the picture printed by myself!"the boy exclaimed in excitement.

The exhibition was co-organized by the Consulate General of China in Almaty and the Confucius College of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. With a total of 100 selected Chinese wood engraving pictures on display, the exhibition will last two weeks before being transported to and exhibited in the Kazakh capital Astana.