In recent days, the vibrant cultural and tourism scene in Harbin in China's northernmost Heilongjiang province has thrust printmaking into the spotlight, turning the Heilongjiang Museum of Printmaking into a popular destination.
 
The Heilongjiang Museum of Printmaking, which opened its doors at the end of October 2022, is the only provincial-level print museum in the entire country.
 
Boasting a collection of 13,000 sets of prints, it houses more printmaking works than any other museum in the nation.
 
Heilongjiang is widely recognized as a printmaking powerhouse in China. The rise of the Beidahuang printmaking movement in the 1950s and 1960s saw the emergence of a host of renowned printmakers, giving rise to the internationally acclaimed Beidahuang printmaking school.
   
Subsequently, printmaking clusters sprang up across the province, consistently garnering awards at national and international printmaking exhibitions.
 
Heilongjiang printmaking is characterized by its unique composition, knife techniques, and color palette.
 
The museum is currently in the process of applying to host the Heilongjiang International Print Biennial Exhibition in collaboration with the China Artists Association and the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.
 
In March, it will host the 14th National Fine Arts Exhibition, showcasing 100-200 outstanding works from across the country in Harbin. By year's end, it plans to exhibit classic lithographic works from Europe spanning nearly 200 years.
   
Visitors admire printmaking works at the Heilongjiang Museum of Printmaking. [Photo/Ice City Plus]