The longstanding tradition of making nianhua paintings and prints during Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, embodies wishes and blessings for the future by generations of Chinese. It was a booming business centuries back, when workshops in different regions developed various styles and skills, and many of these vintage works are now collected and studied by art museums.

An exhibition at the art gallery of the China Millennium Monument shows works by students from the Academy of Arts and Design of Tsinghua University, who, under the guidance of veteran artisans and teachers, introduce new styles, techniques and forms to give the tradition a contemporary look.

On show are paintings, creative products and graphic designs that convey a passion to usher old crafts into the modern age.