Chinese Excellence in Children's Illustration

The “Chinese Excellence in Children’s Illustration 2025” is the second edition of an exhibition series that showcases the best contemporary Chinese illustrators selected each year by a different Jury of leading Chinese and international experts, contributing to building an outstanding overview of contemporary Chinese illustration providing the world community with a deeper understanding of this country’s immense cultural heritage.

The initiative, organized by BolognaFiere/Bologna Children’s Book Fair, China South Publishing & Media Group and Sìdee Cultural Communication, is inspired by the extraordinary experience of “Italian Excellence”, documenting the best of contemporary Italian illustration, and led by the mutual friendship established between Bologna Children’s Book Fair and China.

This year, the Jury selected 1 winner and 18 finalists.

The selection process had several stages. First the Chinese jurors pre-selected 39 illustrators from 126 candidates. Then, together with the international jurors, chose a winner and the finalists, whose artwork is featured at BCBF 2025.

The exhibition and the catalogue - published in English and Chinese - present 100 illustrations offering an outstanding overview of contemporary Chinese illustration.