Artist Xu Min and her work Qiaojia Street. [Photo/Baotou Daily]

Nearly half of the 30,000 runners in the Baotou Marathon, starting on June 23, are from cities outside Baotou.

In order to show Baotou's profound cultural heritage to people from afar, the city is set to hold themed calligraphy and painting exhibition activities of famous artists during the competition.

The exhibition is scheduled from June 21 to 23 at the Baotou Olympic Sports Center. The displayed works include the "Beautiful Baotou" 50-meter long scroll and master paintings, in which 50 famous painters painted 50 of Baotou's scenic spots.

Xu tells his creative process. [Photo/Baotou Daily]

Xu Jixian, a member of China Artists Association, director of Inner Mongolia Artists Association, and a national first-class artist, intends to tell the Baotou story to the contestants and tourists through his paintings.

It took Xu two months to create the Chinese painting The Place Deer Live. In the painting, the trees are lush, the river is rolling, and the deer are playing, full of content and profound artistic conception.

In the painting Baogang Group by artist Tian Shoufa, the vivid scene of making steel and iron expresses Baogang Group's everlasting life.

Tian said, "I hope runners can get to know Baotou through these paintings."