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After I had lived in a tropical country, the first winter snow I experienced when pursuing postdoctoral studies in Britain was unforgettable. When heavy snow covers everything, color almost completely disappears. Outdoor places—meadows, parks, the countryside—are devoid of the hustle and bustle of human activities and noises. There is a rare sense of restfulness, stillness, purity, cleanliness, and solitude, making one feel relaxed and calm. It is a joy to see snow-covered rural landscapes, particularly wooded areas, mountains, lakes, and streams. This painting of a fisherman returning in his boat after a heavy snowfall is my impression of winter scenes in rural China.

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