The annual autistic children's art show has returned offline in Beijing this Autism Awareness Day, bringing dozens of paintings and artistic creations by autistic children across China together.

Zheng Yipeng had two of his drawings in the show this year. His paintings are all about sunflowers, which he believes would bring optimism.

His mother, Flora Tan, said that painting and music training bring periods of calm and concentration.

"Artistic training is effective, but the effects come slowly. It takes time for him to find out what he likes," Tan said.

The show also features a photo section featuring families with autistic children, many of them well into their late twenties and thirties. While not featured in the photo section, Tan said she knows what all families like hers are going through. 

The mother and the son have been in autism treatment for some 25 years. They have done sensory integration training, auditory, linguistic treatments and others.

"It's life-long, forever, and trainings take place wherever we can," she said.

She added that it would be lucky for them to be able to stay and grow together in the years to come.

By 2019, there were over 10 million autistic people in China, among them over two million are under the age of 14. Not everyone gets the attention and training that they need.

China's leading expert in autism treatment, Dr. Jia Meixiang, also with Peking University Sixth Hospital, said that a lack of attention is a problem even more acute for autistic children who are growing old themselves.

"Our oldest patient is 52 years old now. How much help do you expect the parents to have when the kid is this old?" Jia said. "That's why we've been calling for a life-long, all-around support system for autistic children, it should be a system that combines medical, educational and rehabilitating efforts."

Jia said it's important for all of society to be aware of autism and what those who have the condition need.

"Now that we come to take stock of the situation each April, I hope we can have that awareness each and every day," he added.

The art show runs until April 4.