A painting by Zhuang Hongxing is now on show at his solo exhibition at the National Art Museum of China, The Dreamland, through Saturday. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Nanjing-based painter Zhuang Hongxing, 77, grew up in Nanxun, a water town in Zhejiang province, that boast a landscape typical to the southern bank of Yangtz River and historic courtyards as refined examples of classic Chinese architecture.

The environment nurtured his view of beauty, and he depicts a lot of his hometown and neighboring places in watercolors which demonstrate Chinese aesthetic implications.

Dozens of Zhuang's such works are now on show at his solo exhibition at the National Art Museum of China, The Dreamland, through Saturday.

Some of the pieces on display are his donations to the museum through the years, including Autumn Rain No. 1, which was added to the museum's collection last week.

Zhuang said, "This painting portrays a scene of my hometown which arouses a feeling of homesickness among people of my generation. I consider it a precious piece in my output."

Wu Weishan, director of the National Art Museum of China, said: "Zhuang is a righteous man. He is not talkative but much focused on painting. He has injected all his emotions deeply into his strokes.

"It's our duty to showcase the artists like Zhuang who stand loneliness for art."