Zhiyuan Art Museum in Ancient Bencha Town. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Zhiyuan Art Museum in Ancient Bencha Town, Rudong, Nantong, opened to the public on June 16, local media outlets reported.

The art museum is dedicated to showcasing the works of Chinese painter Cong Zhiyuan who lives in the United States.

People appreciate a painting on display at the Zhiyuan Art Museum. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Born in Bencha town, Cong is a professor of woodblock painting at the William Paterson University in the US and board chair of the American Association of Chinese Art Professors.

His works have been collected by the National Museum of China, the China National Academy of Painting, the Newark Museum of Art, and other museums around the world.

Painting on display at the Zhiyuan Art Museum. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Established by the Bencha town government and Donghe Group, the museum covers an area of 1,600 square meters and consists of an art exhibition hall, a Zhiyuan-themed exhibition hall, an art education base, and an artist visit center.

The museum will organize exhibitions to showcase outstanding artworks from home and abroad as well as invite Chinese and international artists to visit Bencha, attend academic conferences, and give lectures.

Painting on display at the Zhiyuan Art Museum. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

A Chinese historic and cultural town, Bencha is blessed with profound culture and many renowned artists in China were born here, such as Miu Xiaomi, an expert at painting mountains and rivers, Cai Shaolan a specialist in drawing plum flowers, and Cai Guanmming, apt at both calligraphy and painting.