The award-winning works of the first Art Contest for Chinese Women were announced recently in Beijing.

About 20 handicraft works, ink paintings, oil paintings, Chinese calligraphy, and photographic works by women artists won the coveted awards.

All China Women's Federation, Chinese Women's Daily and the Chinese Artists Association sponsored the event to mark the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.

Starting in early April, the event drew more than 12,000 participants from home and abroad, of whom the oldest contestant is 90 years old and the youngest 8.

About 30 percent of the participants are from underdeveloped, western regions. Women artists from 19 ethnic groups took part in the contest.