A father runs a kite with his son at the Xinghualing District Special Education Center School in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, on April 2. ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY

In the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan, Shanxi province, a unique art exhibition recently opened, showcasing the works of children with physical and developmental disabilities. The event was aimed at raising awareness of the condition and fostering understanding, respect and love for these special children.

Among the young artists was 13-year-old Li Jiachen from Taiyuan, who created a piece titled Gold Medal for the exhibition. "In my eyes, a gold medal is big and round, a symbol of achievement and hope," he said.

Another child, Feng Zitong, spent three hours completing his painting, The Windmill. He said he envisions his work transforming into a magical burst of colors, with each blade of the windmill embodying curiosity and love for the world.

The exhibition featured over 60 paintings, all created by students from the Xinghualing District Special Education Center School and the Lingxing Community Service Center in Taiyuan. An auction of the paintings raised nearly 40,000 yuan ($5,823), all of which was donated to the two institutions.

"We invited the children to the event, allowing them to feel respected and loved like little artists. Building this kind of confidence can be more effective than certain medication, and this is the true purpose of the exhibition," said curator Wang Jiazhong.

The 8-year-old Zhang Yuxiang (front) performs a dance at the school on April 2. ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY

Research and societal attention on autism spectrum disorder have steadily increased in China over the past 40 years. According to incomplete statistics, the prevalence of ASD in Chinese children is between 0.7 percent and 1 percent. While the root causes remain unclear, mainstream research suggests a combination of genetic, environmental and neurobiological factors.

April 2 marked the 19th World Autism Awareness Day, with themed events held across various cities to offer warmth and support to the autism community. In the Xinghualing school, a themed event titled "Melting Loneliness with Love, Lighting Up Stars with Heart" was held. Hundreds of ASD children showcased their talents through dance, music, martial arts and more, celebrating their day.

Ten-year-old He Jingyao, from the school's autism experimental class, performed on stage with his classmates, singing a popular song. "Today was very happy, and I wasn't nervous at all on stage. When I sang, I didn't think about anything," he said.

Another child, 8-year-old Zhang Yujie, participated in kite painting. She used bright colors to transform a simple kite into a vibrant work of art.

Parent Guo Jian attended the event with his child, participating in kite coloring and flying. "I am grateful to every teacher here for their hard work, bringing warmth to our family during the cold winter," Guo said. He expressed confidence that improvement of the school's facilities, the dedication of the teachers and the care from the community will continue.

Zhang Fang, vice-principal of the Xinghualing school, said that children with autism are often called "children from the stars", shining alone, adding: "Despite their different ways of expression and varied paces of growth, they have the same rights to develop and integrate into society."

Children with autism spectrum disorder view an exhibition of paintings by children with physical and developmental disabilities in Taiyuan on March 29. ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY

At present, the school has 276 students, 19 classes and 50 teachers, making it one of the earliest and most influential nine-year compulsory special education schools in Shanxi province.

"Artistic creation can develop the students' thinking, cultivate aesthetic, spatial and motor skills, and improve their physical coordination," Zhang said. She added that the school has gradually introduced various classes, such as Special Olympics, art and autism experimental classes, exploring teaching paths focused on students' strengths and social integration.

The event also featured several hands-on activities, including clay modeling, picture coloring, bottle painting and kite graffiti. Children participated in groups, expressing themselves and unleashing their creativity while enhancing emotional communication through collaborative interactions.

Meanwhile, every attendee wore a blue ribbon on their right wrist, an internationally recognized symbol representing increased awareness and understanding of the autism community. "The touch of blue signifies understanding, acceptance and a promise to protect hand in hand," Zhang said.

Zhao Yifan contributed to this story.