The sugar painting is a folk handicraft of the Chinese Han People. It is paintings made of sugar, which can not only be eaten but also appreciated. On 18 November 2015, Mr. Zhang Bolin, the well-known master of sugar painting in Wuxi gave an interesting lecture about traditional Chinese culture to the international students from different countries at Jiangnan University.

During the lecture, Master Zhang demonstrated his unique skill in painting Chinese dragon with sugar. After the finishing touch, a stereoscopic “Chinese dragon” full of vitality vividly emerged in sight. The amazed international students were eager to have a try and make a sugar painting with their own hand. Tools for sugar painting only include a spoon and a spade, with the help of which sugar decocted into liquid with gentle heat realized casting moulding. Under the meticulous guidance of the Master, the international students succeeded in casting paintings of various themes like the Pretty Sheep, Doraemon, Christmas tree, butterflies, snakes, etc. The master again and again praised the students for the paintings finished by them, but the latter found the sleight of hand was the key to the success of a sugar painting, while the sleight of hand could not be learned overnight.

The Japanese student Yamanaka Ayako said that the Chinese culture was broad and profound and lectures about traditional Chinese culture were just like feasts for the eyes. With the self-made sugar painting in the form of Doraemon in her hand, the Japanese girl said with a smile, “I showed my sugar painting to my friends in Japan and they are very envious of me”.

The international students earnestly hope that they can have more opportunities to know about and experience the traditional Chinese handicrafts and feel the magic power emitted by the traditional Chinese culture in the future.

Zhang Bolin, Master of Sugar Painting Is Making a "Chinese Dragon"

International Students Are Learning How to Make a Sugar Painting (I)

International Students Are Learning How to Make a Sugar Painting (II)

International Students Are Learning How to Make a Sugar Painting (III)

A Group Photo of the Master and the International Students