More than 500 contestants from 108 universities and research institutions took part in a national petri dish painting competition hosted by Jiangnan University in Wuxi City of Jiangsu Province.

The competition showcased petri plates artworks adorned with microbial cultures, many of which drew inspiration from traditional Chinese culture.

The grand prize went to a piece themed around the Mid-Autumn Festival, created by Cai Yushan, an undergraduate student from Anqing Normal University in Anhui Province, and her team. Using microbes in a range of colors, the artwork skillfully portrayed rabbits, auspicious clouds, the moon, mooncakes, and sweet-scented osmanthus, which are all symbols of the traditional festival.

First prize winners included an entry from Sichuan University of Science & Engineering. It featured four mythological creatures guarding the world in four directions in Chinese culture - the Azure Dragon, the White Tiger, the Vermilion Bird, and the Black Tortoise.

Another first prize winner was a submission from the School of Biotechnology at Jiangnan University, which explored the culture and poetry associated with drinking.