Five established painters and designers, whose works have contributed significantly to modern Chinese art, were honored as lifetime achievement artists of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles on Friday in Beijing.

The award was presented to Chang Shana, Jin Shangyi and Quan Shanshi, as well as Zhou Lingzhao, who turned 100 earlier this year, and late painter Liu Wenxi whose family members received the honor on his behalf.

Chang is known for assisting her father, Chang Shuhong, the founding director of Dunhuang Academy, in the preservation of Dunhuang art and herself integrating elements of these cave paintings into modern designs.

Both Jin and Quan have made efforts to translate the style of oil painting into the soil of Chinese culture, producing many iconic oil works throughout their career that have spanned several decades.

Zhou was an active participant in the design work to raise the profile of New China, such as the national emblem and bank notes of renminbi.

Liu created many realistic ink paintings that reflect the scenery and people's life in Northwestern China, and is hailed as a leader of the Yellow Plateau School of Painting.

The awarding ceremony, held at the National Art Museum of China, also opened the 13th Session of National Fine Arts Exhibition, which is displaying hundreds of artworks from across the nation through Jan 14.