Documenting Changchun line by line

Siberian tiger from Fan Zhengyu's pen [Photo/Jilin Daily]

Carrying a camera, taking photos of people and places in Jilin province and drawing them with paper and ink – this is how Fan Zhengyu fills his spare time.

Fan is the Party secretary at the School of Foreign Languages of Jilin University of Finance and Economics. He is not a professional artist but has been obsessed with a related art -- pen drawing -- for many years.

His drawings are always about ordinary people and the beautiful scenery and wildlife in Jilin province, and they always provide a way for people to see the real Jilin life.

A girl with a smile carrying a school bag, people dressed in heavy coats hurrying away from the bus shelter and Siberian tigers in forests can all be found in Fan's work.

Fan is a discoverer and a recorder. He says he wishes to record the development and changes of his hometown of Changchun by his own hands.

This pen drawing by Fan depicts a lady dressed in typical and traditional clothes from NE China carrying a lamb. [Photo/Jilin Daily]

He always rides bicycles or motorbikes and wanders in the streets.

"Life itself is beautiful, but people lack passion to figure out the beauty," Fan said. "I want to know more people from all walks of life and tell their stories to others."

Fan started to learn pen drawing in 1985 and since then has completed more than 300 drawings. Each one records a story about Changchun city and the lives of its people.

Fan said, "I like what I'm doing now and will continue to do this."

His works have been sent as gifts to staff members of international schools in Australia, Germany and Singapore and some have been printed on postcards.

"I'm so happy to see that people like my drawings," he added. "I'm also proud that people from all around the world can learn about Changchun through my efforts."