Born in 1933 in Guangdong, Liang Shixiong is seen as a representative of the Lingnan School, a Chinese style of painting that originated in the 20th century, from the region south of the Five Ridges mountain range in this southern Chinese province. While inheriting past traditions, Liang has also absorbed the strengths of other Chinese art forms, expanding the scope of traditional Chinese painting in the process with his innovations.

In 1956, Liang graduated from the Central South College of Fine Arts, which was later replaced by the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. He studied under traditional Chinese painting masters Guan Shanyue and Li Xiongcai, as well as his father-in-law, Rong Geng. Rong Geng once wrote the following couplet for his daughter Rong Pu and son-in-law Liang Shixiong: "As the pond endures chilly spring drizzles, the blossoms defy the frost bathed in moonlight." A framed copy of this verse can still be found at Liang's home.

"It encourages young people not to be afraid of difficulties, and to continue to strive and grow. My dad used these couplets to encourage Liang to focus on his work and his creations despite any hardship," Rong Pu explained.

Rong Geng was a famous paleographer and calligrapher. In his later years, he donated many of the artifacts he had collected to the country. Nearly ten percent of the paintings and calligraphy at the Guangzhou Museum of Art was provided by this late maestro. Liang credits his father-in-law's influence for his flourishing art career.

Over the past decades, Liang has finished numerous works based on a range of themes. "His painting style is characterized by the Lingnan School as well as the grander style from north China. He integrates the characteristics of North and South," said Liang Jiang, a researcher at the National Art Museum of China.

Sketching was of paramount importance for the Lingnan School, and Liang has a square seal at his home engraved with the words "Learn from Nature." He stresses how important it is for artists to immerse themselves in nature in order to add life and soul to their works.

Liang has conducted many field trips to roam China's landscapes, including visits to Tibet, Huangshan Mountain in Anhui, and the Three Gorges in Hubei. In 2000, the artist, then in his 70s, ventured deep into the Euphrates poplar forest in a desertland area of Xinjiang. Since that time, this so-called "hero tree" (Populus euphratica) has served as a prominent visual motif in his works.

In 2023, Liang and his family donated 779 pieces of his works and collections to the National Museum of China, including calligraphy, paintings and manuscripts. "These cover some of his representative works based on the theme of revolutionary history. They show snippets of social and cultural life, and have both historical and artistic value," said Zheng Bowen, an employee at the National Museum of China.  

Liang said he sketches and paints as a gift to China, rather than for personal glory or for individual patrons. This is also one of the legacies of his three teachers, who instilled in him a sense of patriotic pride and thanksgiving.

"My country has cultivated me for decades, so I want to give back to China. I feel very honored to be able to donate these works to my country," Liang said.