Chinese publishers, writers and illustrators are attending the 55th Bologna Children's Book Fair as guests of honor for the first time. Besides the original books they brought, they also offer glimpses into Chinese culture and Chinese life in Bologna, Italy.

At Bologna City Hall, the Chinese Ancient Illustrations Art Exhibition is attracting Bolognese locals as well as tourists.

It's said illustrations were one form of ancient Chinese art, with the first tracing back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). One portion of the precious collections is from The Diamond Sutra, one of the earliest illustrations of books in China.

The organizers spent more than two years to collect and prepare for the exhibition.