Hard-pen calligraphy contest gathers thousands in Yantai

The city of Yantai, East China's Shandong province staged a grand calligraphy contest on May 19. Thousands of calligraphy lovers sat at tables in Laishan's Poly Mall Square to show their love for Chinese traditional culture.

Hard-pen calligraphy is a modern transformation of traditional Chinese calligraphy. Instead of brushes, it uses hard-tipped writing instruments such as pens and pencils.

A grand calligraphy contest is held in Yantai, East China's Shandong province on May 19. Calligraphy lovers in Laishan's Poly Mall Square show their love for Chinese traditional culture. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Most of the contestants are students from primary and secondary schools. A group of pupils write Chinese characters by pen at the hard-pen calligraphy contest held on May 19. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]