The Swedish Ambassador to China Per Augustsson makes opening remarks at the inauguration ceremony in Beijing, on June 9, 2025. Photo: Dong Feng/GT

The Embassy of Sweden in China marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Sweden and China at the opening ceremony of "Beijing on Water," an exhibition with photographs by Osvald Sirén (1879-1966), a Finnish-born Swedish art historian in Beijing on June 9. The Swedish Ambassador to China Per Augustsson said that the event symbolized the longstanding cultural ties between Sweden and China through Sirén's work. 

The exhibition featured selected images captured by Sirén during his travels in the early 20th century Beijing. Many of these images - capturing the poetic beauty of the city's moats and riverside life - are being publicly displayed for the first time. The exhibition also offers a glimpse into Beijing's cultural transformation amid its modern prosperity.

Sirén, a renowned sinologist and photographer, is best known for his pioneering studies of Chinese art, architecture, and gardens. As one of the foremost figures in the early 20th century Chinese art history research, Sirén made multiple trips to China, capturing numerous valuable historical photographs documenting Chinese architecture, gardens, and social landscapes. These images have become important materials for studying Chinese history and culture today. 

The exhibition runs till June 30.