An oil painting by Chinese artist Chen Jiqun is pictured, presenting grassland scenery with wolf in the daytime in Dong Ujimqin Banner of Xilin Gol League, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In 1967, artist Chen Jiqun relocated to the rolling grassland as an educated youth, also known as zhiqing, who left the urban districts to live and work in rural areas as part of the "Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside Movement" during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).

Chen's artistic career was inspired by his 13-year stint in Dong Ujimqin Banner.

"I feel pained as I witness the Dong Ujimqin prairie degrading day-by-day," Chen said.

"With the deterioration of the ecology of the grassland, the traditional prairie culture is also vanished rapidly."

When asked about the treatment of the grassland, Chen said it is just like the skin. "If it had been destroyed or affected with cancer, it might not be easy to recover."

He added that joint efforts should be made to address the thorny issue faced across the grassland in Inner Mongolia autonomous region.