Chen Mo, a 73-year-old resident of Chengdu, Sichuan province, had a pleasant surprise during a recent night visit to the Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum in the city's western suburbs.

Taking a leisurely stroll with his wife in the museum known as the "sacred land of Chinese literature", Chen came across students reciting poems by Du Fu (AD 712-770), one of the greatest Chinese poets, and playing traditional Chinese musical instruments.

The students are involved in an event, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Sichuan provincial government, to commemorate the 1,300th birthday of Du Fu, who lived in a cottage in Chengdu for nearly four years.

These students from the Chengdu Paotongshu Primary School dressed in ancient garb to recite Du Fu's poems, perform traditional dances, play a 25-stringed plucked instrument and flute, and demonstrate calligraphy and painting skills.