Han Meilin, artist. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"Believe it or not, the drums in folk operas, the songs and dances of village troupes, and pottery fired in township kilns increase my art vocabulary."

Han also attributes the vitality of his creations to the rock art of Helan Mountain in Ningxia.

Some 20,000 drawings have so far been found there, revealing the worship of nature and totems by ancient people. A lot of symbols are yet to be deciphered.

When he first reached Helan Mountain in the 1980s, Han was struck by the rock paintings. He later paid more visits and has used many of the mysterious patterns from there in his works.

In 2015, a third museum named after him was opened to the public at the foot of Helan Mountain. The other two museums are in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province (2005), and Beijing (2008).

Speaking about how he was inspired by Helan Mountain, he says: "When I first looked at the rock paintings, I felt that I had found the turning point for my art. The root of our culture, it is here, in Helan, in the soil on which people stand."

If you go

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays, through Feb 12. 16 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6511-6400.