Works of art inspired by different folk cultures along the Silk Road are now on display at the National Art Museum of China. The Chinese artist responsible for the exhibit is Yang Xiaoyang, who started collecting inspirations for his paintings by traveling along the historic trade route three decades ago.

It all started some thirty years ago when Yang Xiaoyang set off on his bicycle from his hometown of Xi'an in China's Shaanxi Province.

Yang rode his bike along China's ancient Silk Road all the way to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, stopping here and there to do sketches along the way. The 4-month trip widened Yang's artistic horizons and triggered his enthusiasm for local culture and customs.

The 350 items on display are carefully chosen examples of Yang's art. The works embrace the theme of the Silk Road, and were created over the span of decades. The exhibit includes a wide range of sketches, water-ink images, and heavy-color paintings. They are a chronicle of the artist's painting career, from early realist paintings to an array of abstract drawings that he created later in his life.

"The Silk Road was not merely a period of time in history. It contributed to the cultural exchange between China and the West and offers chances for different nations and peoples to learn from each other. It's also a cultural bridge introducing Chinese culture to the outside world and vice versa," he said.

"Since 1985 I've been interested in painting the Silk Road. Although as time evolves the drawing techniques might change, so do my painting materials and approach to art. My works always have a Silk Road theme."

As the President of the China National Academy of Painting, Yang remains energetic and enthusiastic about art, despite heavy administrative chores.

"I believe administrative work and creating art is a coherent whole. It's hard to separate them from each other. As a matter of fact they complement each other. I'm drawing sketches all the time, during business trips or during tea breaks. I treasure every tiny bit of time," Yang said.

"Yang's sketches vividly capture moving images and faithfully keep record of people's lives. It takes years of professional training to accomplish that. He's also done large-scale paintings that stretch tens of meters in length, which shows his composition ability," said Guo Quanzhong, artist.

The National Art Museum of China's "Silk Road" exhibition will run through Sunday.