Anji county in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, held a news conference on Aug 2 to unveil the commemorative activities marking the 180th anniversary of Wu Changshuo's birth.

Wu Changshuo (1844-1927) was a master artist hailing from Anji, known for his prowess in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving. As the first president of the Xiling Seal Art Society, his legacy looms large.

To honor his 180th birthday, Anji collaborated with institutions including the Xiling Seal Art Society and Zhejiang Art Museum to organize a series of activities, aiming to celebrate the Changshuo artistic spirit and showcase Anji's rich heritage.

Anji has planned two key events. The first is the Wu Changshuo Art Heritage Exhibition, featuring 180 works by Wu and his contemporaries and students.

This exhibition will be split between Hangzhou and Anji, with the first phase starting on Aug 9 at the Zhejiang Art Museum for a month and the second phase on Sept 12 at the Wu Changshuo Memorial Hall for two months.

The second event, the "Zheli Changshuo Centennial Master" commemorative activity, will take place in Anji on Sept 11 and 12. It will feature the premiere of a musical drama centering on Wu Changshuo and the opening of the 2nd Wu Changshuo Academic Symposium.

Shen Xiajun, deputy Party secretary of Anji, expressed the county's commitment to leveraging these events to unearth cultural riches, boost economic development through cultural soft power, and establish the international cultural brand of "Zheli Changshuo".