News came from the Lianzhou Municipal Government that the National Ministry of Culture has approved the settlement of China’s only base specifically designed for sketch artists in Lianzhou, Qingyuan city, Guangdong province. It is the second piece of good news for Lianzhou after its successful bid in 2009 for funding to develop cultural industries in Guangdong province.

Qi Huahai, member of the CPC Lianzhou Municipal Standing Committee, and director of the Publicity Bureau of Lianzhou, said that Lianzhou would seize this opportunity, expanding the base over the next three to five years into a domestic cultural hub attracting elite artists from across the country.

Lianzhou’s bid was the result of the Cultural Industry Promotion Plan issued by the State Council in 2009, which planed to set up an art creation and research center in each and every domestic province. Thanks to its abundant natural and cultural advantages, Lianzhou stood out from more than 100 units which applied for the award.

Lianzhou lies in the south of the Nanling Mountains, an area blessed with beautiful landscapes. Travelling in Lianzhou is like watching a painting scroll unfolding in front of your eyes, making it a perfect place for artistic creation.

Lianzhou currently has five exhibition halls measuring 36,000 square meters as well as five 1,500-square-meter plots of land in the downtown area, which can be used to build workshops. The area also boasts several art studios in Tanling Tianhu Lake, which can be used for field painting. Lianzhou International Photography Exhibition, a world renowned photography event, has been successfully held in Lianzhou for five consecutive years, giving local officials experience in the management of art events.