Originating in the Wuhe River Valley ofQinghai Province(Tongren County of the Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture), Regong art is a successful mix of religious art by Tibetan and Tu ethnic minorities and local folk arts. To better protect the art, it was included in the second phase of the National Folk Culture Protection Project in April 2004.

Regong art includes paintings (murals and scrolls called "thangka" in Tibetan), clay and wooden sculptures, barbola, color paintings on buildings, patterns,butter sculptures, and so on. Among these, the paintings, sculptures and designs are most famous.

The contents of Regong art ranges from the story of the Sakyamuni, Bodhisattvas, Buddhist guardians and fairies, to Buddhist stories.

The art -- an important genre in Tibetan Buddhism-- has a history of more than 700 years. It is called " the flower on the Tibetan Plateau" and "a magnifient pearl of Chinese art".

Tongren: Birthplace of Regong art

Along theYellow River to the southeast of Qinghai Province, Tongren County is reputed as the "Home of Tibetan Culture and Art". Tongren, also called "Regong" in Tibetan, is where the art form sprang up along with the rise of Lamaism and the construction of lamaseries, mainly reflecting the Tibetan Buddhist culture.

By the mid-17th century, Regong had become a village where nearly everyone could paint, and every family was engaged in the art. The people of Regong handed down the art from generation to generation, and now almost everyone there is an artisan.