The artistic achievements of painters in China over the past thirty years are revealed at two painting exhibitions in Beijing. Both opened Tuesday.

The traditional Chinese painting exhibition is the largest ever in terms of scale and quality, since China's opening up three decades ago. Pieces on show are chosen from classic works of nearly 2-hundred Chinese painters.

The artists come from different generations. Bai Xueshi and Yang Zhiguan represent the older generation. There's Liu Dawei, who's at the peak of his career and there are many young, up-and-coming talents.

Wu Changjiang, vice president of China Art Association, said, "Each of the works reflects the artist's individual approach and achievement."

The oil painting exhibition, opened to the public at the same time, bring a few quiet moments of reflection and retrospection for the people of a fast-changing society.

The works exquisitely portray rural workers, coal miners and members of the generation born in the late 1980s. Together, the assembled works chronicle critical moments in recent Chinese history.