July 8, 2024: an exhibition of children's artworks from the sister city of Jining, Shandong Province, China, opened at Gorky Children's Library on July 5.

The exhibition was timed to coincide with the 120th anniversary of the death of Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), who had been born in Taganrog.


The opening ceremony brought together young visitors of the library and representatives of the Academy of Engineering and Technology of Southern Federal University. Deputy of Rostov Oblast Legislative Assembly and chief of Taganrog Central Library System Tatyana Mikheyeva and Chinese student of the Academy of Engineering and Technology of SFedU Chen Wanwan addressed the audience their welcome speeches. Head of Tourism and Foreign Relations Department of Taganrog Local Government Yelena Polyanichenko expressed her good wishes as well.


"It is not without reason that, as they say, every person reads Chekhov in their own way. The children from Jining created their works with a unique Chinese charm, and I am sure that every visitor will truly enjoy seeing these wonderful drawings," she said.

The Jining drawings were sent to Taganrog in the framework of the 12th International Children's Art Contest "Anton Chekhov and Characters of His Works." Young artists from Ethiopia, France, Morocco, Paraguay, South Ossetia and Turkmenistan took part for the very first time, bringing the overall number of participant countries to 63.