Liu Sifen. [Photo by Wen Bo]

A high-end literary and artistic lecture named "Master's Talks on Lingnan Culture" was jointly held by the Zhongshan Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Zhongshan Top Talents Friendship Association on the afternoon of June 2. Liu Sifen, a renowned writer, painter and calligrapher from Zhongshan and the winner of the 4th Mao Dun Literature Prize, talked about Lingnan Culture at the lecture.

Liu began his lecture with Maba people dating back to about 130,000 years ago and sorted out the development of Lingnan Culture. He believed that Lingnan Culture originated from Baiyue Culture and was composed of aboriginal culture, central plains culture, foreign culture and overseas culture. Liu concluded with the characteristics of Lingnan Culture as "not adhering to one pattern, one mode or one paradigm".

Liu also believed that Lingnan Culture embraces its great opportunities for change, promotion and leap with the immigration of foreign population, the innovation of science and technology, and the increasing importance attached to the preservation of culture.