On February 20th, "Cuizhenzhai" in Liulichang Cultural Street, Xicheng District, was bustling with activity as many citizens brought their cherished calligraphy, paintings, and collectibles to seek appraisal assistance from experts from the Beijing Cultural Relics Center, seeking advice on collecting tips.

Inside "Cuizhenzhai" on Liulichang Cultural Street, Xicheng District, experts were appraising the calligraphy and paintings collected by citizens. Beijing Cultural Relics Center held a public welfare appraisal event here, where experts engaged in face-to-face exchanges with collectors, disseminating knowledge about cultural relic collection.

Mr. Lian specifically traveled for an hour on the subway to be the first in line for appraisal.

Three experts leaned in closer to the scrolls, carefully examining and discussing them in hushed tones. "These scroll paintings are hand-mounted, and the artistic skills are profound. We preliminarily judge that these paintings are from the Republic of China period," one expert explained. "During that time, some Chinese painters mainly sold their works abroad, so their reputation domestically was not very big. In terms of artistic value, these paintings are all worth collecting and will add a touch of cultural elegance to your home."

During the appraisal process, Mr. Lian not only listened attentively but also frequently asked questions, seeking clarification from the experts. He said, "This trip was worthwhile. I've learned a lot of appraisal knowledge from the experts."

"Are these items real?" Mr. Zhou and his wife brought three "treasures" they acquired from a street vendor. They're not really knowledgeable about collecting, so they'd like the experts to take a look. The experts provided their appraisal: "These items aren't quite valuable; they're all machine-mounted and lack any collectible value." Mr. Zhou said that he would consider this a lesson learned and be more discerning in the future.

At the appraisal event, most people arrived carrying their "treasures" in large bags, except for Mr. Wu, who brought a thin A4-sized file. When he approached the table, he took out a scroll painting with the inscription "Painting by Huangpu Old Man" from the file. He enthusiastically explained, "This painting depicts plum blossoms and bamboo. I exchanged it from a friend. The moment I saw it, I felt a sense of familiarity and thought it was an old painting."

The experts carefully examined the yellowed painting and nodded approvingly, "Well done, this is indeed an old item. Its age can be traced back to the mid-Qing Dynasty. We suggest you frame it and display it at home for proper preservation."

After half a day of communication, the collectors gained valuable insights, and the experts noticed a more rational approach to collecting among them. "Behind each piece of collectible, there's a unique historical background, artistic value, and cultural significance. We hope to guide everyone towards establishing a healthy collecting mindset through our interpretation," said Long Xiaopeng, Director of the Restoration Department of Beijing Cultural Relics Center. He mentioned that the center has established a regular public welfare appraisal and consultation mechanism, holding two public welfare appraisal services every month to enrich public cultural life.

Translator: JIANG Wenyi

Reviewer: BAI Jing