A Yangliuqing New Year painting showed at the exhibition in Beijing, Jan 10, 2017. [Photo/namoc.org]

An exhibition featuring traditional New Year pictures has opened at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing, in the lead up to the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.

The showpieces were Yangliuqing New Year paintings that belong to a select style of traditional Chinese New Year pictures.

Yangliuqing New Year painting art originated from the middle to late period of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and enjoyed its prime during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It was listed as National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006.

Using bright colors and fine lines, Yangliuqing New Year pictures are well-known for the harmony and auspiciousness they convey to people. Chubby babies and children, lucky tokens, folk stories, fine ladies and landscapes are most often portrayed in the paintings.

The exhibition is on until March 26.