The city of Datong, Shanxi province played host to some unusual guests, on Jan 23, when a group of world famous Asian artists, in the company of Jean-Paul Desroches, an Asian art expert and head of France’s Musée National des Arts Asiatiques Guimet came to view some scenic spots there. They were also accompanied by Liu Zhenguo, Datong’s vice-mayor.

The group visited the Yungang Grottoes, Huayan Temple, and the city’s east wall, where Desroches compared the city of today with that of 40 years ago, when he came to Datong with France’s President Georges Pompidou, for a survey, in 1973. He said that the city has experienced some great changes in those 40 years partly thanks to its efforts to preserve cultural relics. He said he also looked forward to increasing cooperation with the municipal government in publicizing Datong’s culture and arts by holding exhibitions in France and other countries.

Edited by Roger Bradshaw