Icons of China such as the National Stadium, a major venue of the on-going Olympic Games, and ancient residences are among a set of unique paintings at a new gallery show that opened on August 16.

"I want to show the profound Chinese culture to the Olympic guests from all over the world," said Qi Peng, the artist behind "Symbols of China," an exhibition of 138 paintings at the China National Academy of Painting in the capital's Haidian District.

The show features Qi's works since 2005 and are exhibited in three sections -- "Symbols of People," "Chinese Traditional Residences" and "Symbols of Ancient City."

"The series 'Symbols of People' depicts the inner thoughts of contemporary Chinese people and tells her critical ideas towards the society thoroughly," said Wang Yong, a famed calligrapher and professor at Beijing's Central Academy of Arts.

The artist said all her paintings were given psychology concept names, such as "Self-abasement man," "Joyful man," "Anxious man" and "Pondering man," among others. These were mirrors of Chinese people.

Qi, 49, expresses her thoughts not only via human beings' expressions but also through different residences across China, something evident in her series "Chinese Traditional Residences" and "Symbols of Ancient City."

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Hebei Province native traveled around the country to the eastern Anhui, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, and the central Shanxi and northwestern Shaanxi provinces. During the time, she explored more than 50 old towns and took thousands of photos and made numerous sketches and traditional Chinese paintings.

The period embedded her understanding about the diversity of styles in the residences and the destruction of old houses. With her current show, she wanted to attract people's attention to protecting the rapidly disappearing old buildings.

"She named the pictures with the words from the ancient literature Shanhaijing (Classic of Mountains and Rivers), which leaves the residences with her own understanding and offers the audience more space for imagination," said Deng Pingxiang, a famed oil painting critic and director of the China Oil Painting Society.

"As a doctor of philosophy and social psychology, Qi Peng had adopted her views into her paintings. She combines the rationality and sensibility together," he said.

Qi also reveals a new Beijing mixed with ancient residences in hutongs and modern building such as the National Stadium, also known as Bird's Nest.

"We see a real Beijing in the symbols she selected," said Tao Yongbai, a China Art Institute researcher. "The miracle thoughts of modern building designers can been clearly seen in the paintings."

"Her style is a combination of Chinese traditional painting and oil painting."

Qi, a member of both the China Artists Association and Chinese Psychological Society, earned an international reputation by winning the gold medal at the Heilongjiang International Art Fair and another gold for the painting "Harmonious China 2007" from the United Nation's World Peace Foundation and United World Chinese Association.

Since 1993, she has held nine shows. Her current exhibition has attracted many of her famed contemporary artists. The show runs through Thursday.

"I simply try to express the deepest spirit of Chinese via different artistic symbols. I want the rest of the world to know China more than just sports during the Olympics."