A performer plays zither during the opening of "Art Unites the World" exhibition at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States, November 1, 2016 (XINHUA) 

Colorful lotus flowers stood by Chinese teapots while a white crane was dancing under a red plum. This was a scene at a Chinese art show debuted at UN Headquarters in New York.

Themed "Art Unites the World", the exhibition featured 16 pieces of art works from famous Chinese painters such as Sun Qifeng, 96, Huang Yongyu, 92, and Liu Dawei, who was born in 1945.

Also on display were 23 pieces of purple clay teapots made by skilled Chinese craftsmen. Purple clay teapots, or Zisha teapots, are the best because they can bring out the flagrance of tea.

The exhibition combines traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy art with Chinese purple sand craft, thereby highlighting the charm of Chinese arts.

Liu, chairman of the China Artists' Association, said at the opening ceremony that he hoped that from those paintings, people from different countries can read the peace-loving spirit of the Chinese people.

Also present at the ceremony was Xu Haoliang, UN assistant secretary-general and assistant administrator of the United Nations Development Program.

The five-day show was jointly organized by the UN Chinese Book Club and the China Foundation for the Development of Social Culture.

(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2016)