Sculpture has now become the signature for Changchun, demonstrating the northeast city's culture, beauty and tolerance.

A wetland park outside Changchun's high-tech district was originally a gift from nature, and now sculpture adds texture to the charm.

The Changchun-Northeast International Sculpture Park has 107 sculptures themed after "innovation, breakthrough and dreams".

They are artworks from the 11th Changchun International Sculpture Invitational Exposition.

"I hope my work conveys passion and love for life, and lets the world know Denmark's cultural characteristics," said Danish Sculptor Poul Baekhoj, one of the sculptors invited by the exposition.

Poul's work is a huge screw standing by the roadside in the high-tech district.

Changchun also has another five such theme parks built by different districts, while the Changchun World Sculpture Park has become an internationally known landmark. South of the city, the park covers 92 hectares, 11.8 hectares of it water, and is home to 452 sculptures created by 402 artists from 216 countries and regions. Its design notion blends both traditional and modern elements, as well as both Chinese and Western thinking.

The front gate faces Rodin Square named after the 19th century French sculptor. A sculpture titled Friendship, Peace and Spring stands at the center of the square. Winding roads lead to the Changchun Sculpture Art Museum and Songshan Hanrong Africa Art Collection Museum. The park also collects classic works by renowned sculptors from China including Liu Kaiqu, Zeng Zhushao, Panhe, Wang Keqing and Yin Xiaofeng.

It also has representative works of international sculptors.

Since it opened in 2003 Changchun World Sculpture Park has become an important international art center.

The culture of sculpture dates back to 1997, when Changchun policymakers decided to hold an international sculpture exhibition to elevate the city's cultural taste.

The idea received support from government commissions, and the first exhibition invited 23 sculptors who each left behind an artwork in Changchun.

By 2008, the city had successfully held nine such sculpture exhibitions.

To be held on Sept 4, this year's exposition's theme is "happiness, life and future." Sculptors from both home and overseas invited to the event started their work on July 23. It is the first time that the sculpture exposition will be hosted by an enterprise - Zhongdong Group.

More than 40 works selected by the organizing committee will be displayed in the business showroom of the Zhongdong Group after the exposition.

xuxiao@chinadaily.com.cn