Mianzhu sees its first New Year painting.

Mianzhu's New Year painting festival is now in its seventh year. Each year, the event attracts over ten thousand visitors.

This year, the festival has added some new themes. Local artists have created new pieces featuring the earthquake relief and the reconstruction of their homes.

Artist Li Fangfu said, "I lost much of my own collection of New Year paintings in the earthquake. But we'll continue keeping these traditional art forms alive."

After the earthquake, many young people visited the old artists in Mianzhu to learn the art of making a refined New Year painting. And, many of them are determined to keep the old art form at the highest level.

In 2006, Mianzhu's New Year painting was among the first things named on China's national intangible heritage protection list.

(CCTV January 23, 2009)