Some artists and students of Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU) got together for a painting and calligraphy event, in Beijing on May 22, to celebrate the university's 120th anniversary which comes this September.

Cao Guoyong, Party secretary of Beijing Jiaotong University, addresses the painting and calligraphy event, on May 22 in Beijing.[Photo/ njtu.edu.cn]

In commenting on the unusual event, Cao Guoyong, Party secretary of Beijing Jiaotong University, said, "This is a great gift from the artists and students for the university's 120th anniversary."

Ma Xiaomei, executive president of the China World National Promotion Society speaks at the painting and calligraphy event, in Beijing, on May 22. [Photo/ njtu.edu.cn]

Ma Xiaomei, executive president of the China World National Promotion Society, who took part in the event, described it as one part of a larger activity, "Painting and calligraphy artists on campus", whose purpose is to promote traditional culture.

One of the special offerings was a poem composed by Liao Tingjian, a famous calligrapher, done with a brush on a 12-meter-long piece of rice paper fixed to a board in the university gym.

Artists and students with a long calligraphic work to celebrate the120th anniversary of Beijing Jiaotong University, in Beijing, on May 22. [Photo/ njtu.edu.cn]

Beijing Jiaotong University says that it has been providing more support for students wanting to get in touch with culture and art. In 2010, it established a Chinese painting and calligraphy research center in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture's Art Development Center of Chinese Painting.

Also taking part in the event were students playing classical Chinese music to depict the many years of school history through songs and poetry.