[Photo by Michele Stanzione/Provided to China Daily]

Unlike European cities where sculptures have long existed alongside old architecture, many Chinese cities are relatively new, with shorter histories of sculptures.

In 1997, when Qingdao got its first landmark sculpture of a steel spiral structure, it was a rare occasion in China and drove a wave that saw many other cities install their own sculptures.

Qingdao's modern sculptures, made in the past decades, make the city look good. But the local people now want more to create an artistic atmosphere, Li says.

The city has some interesting historical figures for sculptors, such as Faxian, a Chinese monk who stayed in India for years to collect Buddhist scriptures, he says.

Stanzione's show of the European sculptures opened to hundreds of local visitors on Sunday.

Yu Peng, director of the center of international cultural exchange affairs with the Culture Ministry, says next year's program involving Qingdao and European artists will be a good example of exchanges between Chinese and foreign cities.

Contact the writer at dengzhangyu@chinadaily.com.cn

If you go

10 am-9 pm, through Dec 26.

Qingdao Mixc, 6 Shandong Road, Shinan district, Qingdao.

0532-6862-1177.