Xu Beihong (1895--1953), outstanding Chinese painter and art educationist, studied in France in his youth and returned to China to serve as the Director, Central Art Academy of Beijing and Chairman, Artists Association of China. His works were imbued with dense Chinese colors and displayed excellent painting skills. Therefore, he was regarded as founder of the realistic art education of China and founding father of modern Chinese painting. The Xu Beihong Memorial, built in Beijing by the Chinese government, has an area of 3,700 square meters and seven exhibition rooms; it provides permanent display facilities for his traditional Chinese paintings, oil paintings, sketches, portraits and sketches.

All these works reveal to visitors the excellence of his painting skills and arouse the memory of his times. In addition, his personality is reflected in these pieces including his perseverance, uprightness, diligence and deep patriotism.

After Xu Beihong passed away, Liao Jingwen, his wife, donated over 1,200 of his paintings to the state; these include Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties works which he collected. She also donated his collection of more than 10,000 valuable pictures, books and picture albums. All his works are rated as national cultural heritages. Replications of his paintings and picture albums are sold in the Museum. There is also a Xu Beihong Painting Studio in the Memorial, which enrolls students in advanced studies from home and abroad who are taught by professors from the Central Fine Arts Academy.