Xia Wanqun, winner of the Special Prize

　　Xia is well known for his perseverance in protecting traditional Chinese culture. In 2003, a Japanese folk culture delegation went to Henan for a visit. Xia traveled through Henan with them. He was surprised to know that two members of the Japanese delegation have a collection of more than one thousand of China's New Year Woodblock Prints. At that time, Xia was preparing to publish a book on China's New Year Woodblock Prints. When the two Japanese collectors discovered that Xia had planed to go to Japan for more information, they were so moved by Xia's deeds that they decided to give their collections back to the Chinese government.

China's New Year Woodblock Prints

　　In the same year, with the help from Ren Xinghang, a Jun Porcelain master, Xia restored the production of Jun Porcelain. This particular type of porcelain is the most renowned of the top five porcelains of the Song Dynasty (960-1297).