Zhangjiakou hosts national calligraphy event for the 2022 Winter Olympics

Wang Cizhong Hometown National Calligraphy Event was held in Zhangjiakou’s Huailai county on April 25 to support Beijing and Zhangjiakou’s joint bidding for the 2012 winter Olympic Games.

Four professional calligraphers from Beijing and another four from Hebei province each wrote one character using a huge writing brush which all together means utilizing calligraphy to support the bidding for the winter Olympics.

According to Lin You, president of the Beijing Calligraphers Association, the symbol of the winter Olympics was based on the Chinese Character “冬”, which means “winter”. It combined the excitement of winter sports and the unique charm of the Chinese culture.

Lin You, president of the Beijing Calligraphers Association, addresses the Wang Cizhong Hometown Calligraphy Event on April 25. [Photo by Wang Yifei/ chinadaily.com.cn]

Huailai, is the hometown of Wang Cizhong, a famous calligrapher in ancient China, who innovated the Chinese character by changing seal characters to clerical script and making the Chinese characters easier to write, thus facilitating the standardization and popularization of Chinese ideograms.

“I’ve been practicing for this event for a long time and feel honored to be a part. I hope we can successfully win the bid for the winter Olympics and make Huailai known throughout China and even in the entire world”, said Wang Deling, a local in her 70s.

Wang Deling, an amateur calligrapher, exhibits her calligraphy work to show her pride as a local Huailai and her best wishes for the bid of the 2022 Winter Olympics on April 25 in Zhang Jiakou. [Photo by Wang Yifei/ chinadaily.com.cn]

More than 100 students from local middle schools as well as primary schools also came up with numerous calligraphy works to show their expectations.

Seven students from Shacheng No 4 Primary School showcase their calligraphy works at the event in Zhangjiakou’s Huailai county on April 25. [Photo by Wang Yifei/ chinadaily.com.cn]

Apart from local calligraphers, many from other parts of China also sent their works to show their support for Beijing and Zhangjiakou’s joint bid for the event.

A total of 20 established calligraphers, 50 amateurs from all walks of life as well as 100 local students took part in the event and more than 200 pieces of calligraphy were created for the event. The most outstanding ones will be displayed at the Beijing Olympic Museum for a month, starting from June 6.