"Tongxiang is home to famous Chinese comic artists Shen Bochen (1889-1920) and Feng Zikai (1898-1975). The place was dubbed as 'home of the Chinese cartoon' by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism," said Bao Xiaomin, deputy director of the Tongxiang Municipal Publicity Department. She led a group of 22 Chinese cartoonists attending the exhibition's opening on April 3.

Bao said in Tongxiang, comics have been thriving in recent years. The city has established Tongxiang Cartoon Association, opened Feng Zikai Cartoon School and set up China Cartoon Creation Base.

According to Bao, the Zikai Cup China Cartoon Exhibition has been held biennially in Tongxiang since 2002, attracting the most talented cartoonists from across the country every other year.