GUANGZHOU People’s Arts Center, a new cultural landmark in the capital city of Guangdong Province, officially opened to the public yesterday, featuring a variety of exhibitions that present a cultural feast for residents. Covering an area of 20,300 square meters on the former site of Guangzhou Arts Museum in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou People’s Arts Center was designed by Mo Bozhi, a renowned architect and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. The complex showcases distinctive elements of Lingnan architecture such as 12 floras columns, and eaves tiles inspired by the Qin (221-207 B.C.) and Han (202 B.C.-220 A.D.) dynasties. The arts center includes a comprehensive art gallery, a contemporary art hall, a 307-seat multifunctional auditorium, and 10 themed exhibition halls. Additionally, it houses a creative gallery, a sculpture workshop, a rehearsal hall, a recording studio and a framing room, among others facilities. The center is envisioned as a welcoming place for artists, a hub for public engagement with the arts, and a center for cultural innovation. It is aimed to serve as an important platform for cultural activities in Guangzhou, as well as a key window for cultural and artistic exchanges within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The center will also periodically host guided tours featuring renowned artists. In celebration of its grand opening and the upcoming National Day, the arts center is hosting a series of exhibitions. One standout showcase is called “Never Forget,” which features over 260 works from more than 200 renowned literary and artistic figures. These pieces, donated by artists who participated in cultural exchanges over the years, exude a strong sense of the times while embodying the rich cultural heritage of the Lingnan area. The “Never Forget” exhibition displays masterpieces from renowned artists like Li Xiongcai, Guan Shanyue, Lin Fengsu, and Lin Yong. The arts center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. No reservation is required for individual visitors to the center. (Wei Jie) | 