Traditional Chinese paintings attract more viewers in the US if they're painted with brushstrokes, according to Ming Xu, chairman at the Silk Road Chamber of Commerce.

The first Chinese painting exhibition kicked off on Monday in China Garden, a Chinese restaurant in Rosslyn, Virginia. Most of the Chinese paintings are from the early 20th century, collected by the North Gallery in Liaoning province.

Although it was the first exhibition of the paintings in the United States, some of them were on display in November at the Chinese American Film Festival in Los Angeles, said Li Hua, vice-general manager at the North Gallery.

'There should be more Chinese brush-painting exhibitions in the US, especially in areas close to Washington,' Xu said. 'We can usually see Chinese ceramics and calligraphy exhibitions in either museums or galleries, but there are just a few places where you can see Chinese brush paintings.'

The paintings are some of the most refined works in Chinese art history, according to Dexiang Qian, who has a gallery in Philadelphia. There are various materials and methods applied in creating the pieces.

'Most of my works are oil paintings,' Qian said. 'When I was invited to this exhibition, I was really excited to see all the Chinese paintings. I hope there will be more galleries of traditional Chinese paintings in the US.'

Robert Plunkett, a visitor to the exhibition, said quite a few of the Chinese paintings were abstract.

Personally I just prefer those paintings which directly show their aesthetic values,' he said. 'I'm not sure about the ducks with bamboo sticks around them. It seems like the painter drew the picture so casually that it is a messy picture for me,' Plunkett said.

'But I really like some of those landscape paintings,' he said. The lines were so meticulously drawn along the contour of the mountain that you can even see the texture of those rocks. And the cloud surrounding it makes

the whole scene very foggy yet very natural, and this amazes me most.'

Another visitor, Talya Vikram, said: 'I'm from India myself. It is just really important to me to have the intercultural relationship between different cultures.

'Personally, I love art,' said Vikram, who said he has painted since I was a young kid. I like not only culturally rooted art but all types of art. For me, it's refreshing to see how the Chinese painters use the unique techniques to create their works.'

Wu Zhongyang, a Chinese writer and painter, said that 'the traditional Chinese painting carries China's culture and history. I hope more Chinese Americans can help to promote Chinese painting exhibitions.

'Also, they are good investments,' Wu said. 'Many investors come to the North Gallery to buy the paintings.

There is much potential in the Chinese painting market.'

wo paintings have been purchased so far, according to a staff member at the North Gallery. Pan Jialiang in Washington contributed to the story