Mao Songying 茅松鹰

The Master of Lychee Art

A Contemporary Voice of Chinese Aesthetics


About the Artist


Mao Songying, born in 1949 in Qinzhou, Guangxi Province, China, is a renowned contemporary artist currently living and working in Shenzhen. He began his formal art education at the Affiliated High School of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in 1963, and later furthered his studies at the Academy’s Chinese Painting Department and graduate-level Oil Painting Program.


Mao studied under some of China’s most respected masters, including the legendary Lingnan School painter Guan Shanyue, as well as Guo Shaogang, Chen Xiue, Huang Wenbo, Lin Fengsu, and Chen Xinhua. His solid training in both traditional Chinese painting and Western oil painting techniques laid the foundation for his distinctive artistic language.


Throughout his decades-long career, Mao’s works have been exhibited widely in China and internationally — from the National Art Museum of China in Beijing to galleries in Hong Kong, Taiwan, France, Japan, and Canada. His paintings are collected by the Royal Academy of Music in the UK, the Shenzhen Municipal Government, and numerous collectors and institutions around the world.

The Founder of “Lychee Painting” — Turning a Fruit into a Cultural Icon


Among Mao Songying’s most celebrated creations is his series of lychee paintings — a body of work that has become his signature and has earned him the title of “The Master of Lychee Art.”


Lychee, a native fruit of South China, carries rich symbolic meanings in Chinese culture: prosperity, love, happiness, ambition, and good fortune. In Cantonese, the word for lychee (荔枝) sounds like “lì zhì” (励志), which means “inspiration” or “determination.” For centuries, the lychee has been more than just a fruit — it has been a symbol of hope, success, and blessings.


Mao’s lychee paintings are vivid, dynamic, and full of life. He blends the expressive brushwork of traditional Chinese painting with the rich color and texture of oil painting, capturing the lush beauty and vitality of the fruit in a way that feels deeply rooted in both nature and culture.


His lychee works are not just paintings — they are visual poetry, rich with meaning and uniquely representative of Southern China’s spirit. For this reason, many of his pieces have been chosen by the Shenzhen Government as diplomatic gifts, presented to international guests and partner cities as symbols of Chinese culture and goodwill.


To own a painting by Mao Songying is to hold a piece of China’s story — a blessing of luck, happiness, and vibrant life energy.

Beyond Lychees — A Versatile Artistic Voice


While lychees are his most iconic motif, Mao Songying’s artistic exploration goes far beyond fruit. His portfolio includes breathtaking landscapes, soulful portraits, scenes of Lingnan life, and elegant flower-and-bird compositions.


His works combine the delicate poetry of Eastern ink painting with the depth and atmosphere of Western oil painting. His brush captures not only the physical world but also the emotional and spiritual essence of his subjects.


Mao’s paintings transcend cultural boundaries — they feel at once traditional and modern, regional yet universal. His art speaks to nature lovers, collectors, designers, and anyone drawn to authentic beauty rooted in cultural meaning.