THE Beijing Palace Museum has received a donation of 100 million yuan (US$15 million) from artist Cui Ruzhuo.

    It’s the biggest cash donation by a single donor the museum has ever received.

    Curator Shan Qixiang expressed his appreciation of the artist’s generosity, and the museum’s vice-curator Wang Yamin has already set out a tentative plan for how the money might be used.

    One-fifth will go toward the preservation of relics while the rest is used for staff training and research.

    Cui earned the 100 million yuan by selling one of his paintings to the chairperson of Star River Property Holding, Ltd., a real estate company in South China’s Guangdong Province.

    The painter said he owed much to the Palace Museum, as he spent many hours there practicing sketching since he was young. He said he wanted to return the favor.

    Cui’s painting exhibition at the Palace Museum opened Thursday and will last until May.(Xinhua)