An exhibition showcasing photos taken by French photographer Bruno Barbey in China between 1970s and 1980s opened at the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) Thursday.

Forty-nine colored photos are on display at the "True China Stories -- Bruno Barbey Photography Exhibition," featuring the life of ordinary Chinese at the aforementioned period of time and reflecting the rapid development of the country at the time.

Bruno Barbey, former global chairman of Magnum Photos, is an academician of the French Academy of Fine Arts. Since he followed then-President George Pompidou to visit China in 1973, he has been made several visits to China, exploring the country with his camera lens.

Even to this day, Barbey still captures the changes in China with great passion, said Wu Weishan, curator of the NAMOC.

Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, Wu said he wished the exhibition would inspire visitors to learn from the two civilizations.

Barbey donated 69 pieces of his works to the NAMOC.

The exhibition will last until July 28.