Xiao Jingkang,16,enjoys painting while participating in a drawing class for autistic children in Beijing. Provided to China Daily

Organizations that offer art training to children like Xiao have been springing up, and drawing has become an important outlet for autistic children, at least in big cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, Zou says.

Yue Liang, a 15-year-old autistic boy, has been taking drawing classes since 2011 at several art rehabilitation centers in Beijing.

"I don't expect him to be able to do mathematics or to write a story," says Liang Jun, 46, Yue's mother.

"I just hope his time will be occupied, and he will not loiter around. I don't want him to feel bored when his father and I have to leave him alone in the world."

Yue was diagnosed at 4 years old. He has an even temper and never becomes violent.

He attends regular school with ordinary kids, but academically lags behind his classmates, who are about three years younger than him.

When Liang realized art was one of the few courses in which her son excelled, she decided to find a facility where he could study drawing.

On the advice of a friend, in 2011, Liang enrolled Yue in Golden Wings, an art rehabilitation center for autistic children. He now spends at least one day a week there taking classes in drawing.

"My son loves drawing at the center," Liang says. "It feels different from a school drawing class."

In Yue's school, one teacher is responsible for dozens of students. The teacher doesn't have the energy or patience to attend to every student's different needs, Liang says.

In the rehabilitation center, all the teachers, for drawing, dancing and gymnastics, have been specially trained in special education, and have the patience and expertise to teach autistic children.