A series of events held in the memory of famous Chinese painter Xu Beihong are launched in Xu's hometown of Yixing, in East China's Jiangsu province, on Sept 21. [Photo/gmw.cn]

A series of events in memory of famous Chinese painter Xu Beihong were launched in Xu's hometown of Yixing, in East China's Jiangsu province, on Sept 21.

Xu, born in 1895, is hailed as the "father of modern Chinese painting" for combining both Oriental and Western styles in his works and mentoring generations of Chinese artists.

In his life, Xu devoted a lot in helping develop and promote art lessons in schools. The curriculum designed by Xu continues to guide several prestigious Chinese art schools to this day.

Eight schools from Wuxi and Changzhou city joined in the Xu Beihong Education Alliance to develop art as one of their majors. They included Wuxi Outang Primary School, Changzhou Hanlin Culture and Art School, Yixing Guanghui Experimental Kindergarten, Yixing Guanghui Experimental Primary School and Yixing Beihong Experimental Primary School.

Others included, Yixing Yuting Middle School, Yixing Economic and Technological Development Zone Experimental Primary School and Yixing Yuting Street Yuting Kindergarten.

An exhibition featuring various Xu's masterpieces opens in Yixing, which will run for one month. [Photo/gmw.cn]

An exhibition featuring various Xu's masterpieces also opened, which will run for one month.

The art exhibition, aiming to pay tribute to the founders of modern Chinese painting, also exhibited works of over 30 celebrated Chinese artists such as Qi Baishi and Zhang Daqian.

Yixing has been making great efforts to promote Xu's educational wisdom about Chinese art.