Act of friendship brings Chinese and Italian cities together with creative projects, Cheng Yuezhu reports.

In the northeastern corner of the Italian island of Sicily is nestled the small city of Meri. While celebrated for its ocean views and intricate medieval architecture, what is perhaps lesser known is its art atmosphere and connection with China.

During the past few years, Meri has established itself as an open-air museum. On its streets and squares, name plaques have been replaced by terracotta tiles with artworks printed on top, created by 60 artists from 34 countries.

The project, Timeless Immortal Art, was initiated in March 2020 in Meri and has recently arrived in Huangshan, East China's Anhui province.

It began with a friendship that spanned Eurasia.

In the early days of the project, Wang Xingyi, founder of the Guiyahui Cultural Exchange Association, had just been acquainted with curator Francesco Chinnici from Sicily. With the COVID-19 outbreak, the two corresponded online about their art projects and prospects.