The world's largest free-to-the-public outdoor sculpture exhibit is underway in Australia. One of the themes from this year's event is being called "From Beijing to Bondi" because it features the works of artists from China's renowned Central Academy of Fine Arts. Greg Navarro has more.

Viewing the art in this museum involves a walk, 2 kilometres to be exact, along a section of one of Australia's most photographed coastlines. The reward for patrons is a collection of more than 100 sculptures - framed with a scenic backdrop - some dot the landscape - others dominate it. This 3 metre tall fleshy figure is called Horizon, crafted by the hands of acclaimed Chinese artist Mu Boyan.

MU BOYAN ARTIST "The idea to make this sculpture is from last year when I received an invitation to be here, he said, and created this image of a man, a man by the sea, to show humility in a natural setting."

Boyan is one of 8 distinguished alumni and teachers from Beijing's Central Academy of Fine Arts taking part in this year's Sculpture by the Sea. One of the first major exhibitions in Australia to feature the works of Chinese sculptors outdoors.

DAVID HANDLEY FOUNDING DIRECTOR, SCULPTURE BY THE SEA "It has been a wonderful journey working with the Chinese sculptures as their profile globally has literally exploded like China has in the last couple of decades into an extraordinary country with extraordinary artists."

The journey for Sculpture By The Sea has been equally remarkable - launching 22 years ago with an idea, a group of volunteers, and a marketing budget of just 400 dollars.

GREG NAVARRO SYDNEY "In fact, organisers say 25,000 people turned out to see works of art like this."

DAVID HANDLEY FOUNDING DIRECTOR, SCULPTURE BY THE SEA "That was putting the sculptures up, showing them, and pulling them down in one day."

The annual 2-week event now includes a collection of world-class artists whose work will be seen by almost half a million people.

MU BOYAN ARTIST "So many people come here, so loving and take photos," said Boyan, I'm very happy with the result, it's beyond what I expected."

For the artists, this unique seaside showing is an opportunity to expose people to elements from their own cultures.

ZHANG WEI ARTIST "You can see that my work is like a traditional Chinese painting."

And to combine elements from those cultures, as in the case of A Bicycle Covered By Snow - to create contemporary works of art.

CAO HUI ARTIST "When I was little I had a dream to ride a bicycle around the world so I made a bicycle. I thought if this bicycle was sent to Australia during the country's winter, I thought it may be snowing, there may be ice on the bicycle."

Walking is the preferred mode of transportation here - in a picture-perfect exhibit designed to encourage people to pause and reflect, and experience the works around them. Greg Navarro, CGTN, Sydney.