'China Through My Eyes' Global Children's Art Project winners unveiled

The results are in! We are excited to announce that the Grand Prize for the "China Through My Eyes" Global Children’s Art Project has been awarded to 7-year-old Zhang Tianxin from the United States for her artwork "Tianxin's Journey Across China."

Since the project's launch in September, we have been amazed by the incredible global participation from young artists. Over 130 submissions were received, each offering a unique and imaginative interpretation of China through the eyes of children.

After careful evaluation by our esteemed panel of judges, 50 finalists were selected, including 1 Grand Prize winner, 5 First Prize winners, 10 Second Prize winners, and 20 Third Prize winners.

We are delighted to share some of the outstanding winning artworks:

Zhang Tianxin spent four weeks this summer crafting a marker drawing that encapsulates the essence of her first trip to China. The artwork features iconic landmarks from cities across the country, including the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the Tianjin Eye Ferris wheel, the Chengdu 339 TV Tower, the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, and the Jinma Biji Square in Kunming. In this lively and imaginative scene, Tianxin envisions exploring China alongside other tourists, as well as a cat driver and his companions navigating the streets.

Judges' opinions: The composition uses a cut-out, collage-like approach that breaks spatial constraints and employs the technique of scattered perspective to unify iconic landmarks from different cities. It masterfully captures the geographical and cultural landscapes of modern China. This work not only conveys a sense of majestic grandeur, but also embodies the vibrant, innocent, and expressive nature of children's art. The young artist's control over composition, choice of subject matter and painting techniques make her work rich in content and impressive in its application of artistic methods.

Watch Tianxin introduce her drawing here.

Shawn Gao's artwork is a beautiful collection of sketches made during his summer trip to the Hexi Corridor along the ancient Silk Road. Using a black felt-tip pen for the outlines on Chinese paper and adding shading with white gouache paint, Shawn recreated the scenes that left a lasting impression on him. His work features the largest Buddha statues from the Bingling Temple in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province near the Yellow River, the front gates of the Jiayuguan Fortress, a horse and carriage from the Xixia Museum, birds and clouds from the Yulin Grottoes, and a beautiful Buddha statue from the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang.

Check out Shawn's explanation of his journey and artwork.

Kennard Hanzel Chandra's vibrant piece is inspired by his love for Chinese cuisine, particularly lamian (hand-pulled noodles). Using recycled newspapers, poster paint, pastels, and string, the young artist from Indonesia brings this traditional dish to life. To Kennard, China is a magical land known for its delicious food and rich cultural heritage. He dreams of one day visiting China to experience its culture firsthand.

Watch Kennard introduce his work.

Ella Zhang's artwork is a reflection of her trip to China this summer, where she visited famous landmarks like the Great Wall, the Yellow River, Mount Tai, and the Forbidden City. Ella was especially inspired by how Chinese people celebrate holidays with traditional clothing and food. Through her drawing, she hopes to convey the grandeur of these celebrations.

Watch Ella's video introduction here.

For more winning artworks, please visit our special webpage.

The children's submissions are filled with passion and curiosity about Chinese culture, each offering a unique perspective that reflects the diverse potential of these young minds. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the young participants for their enthusiasm and creativity.

(All artwork images and introduction videos have been authorized for release by the participants and their guardians.)