"Drawing is my lifelong joy,… and I’ll never put this pen down, “ says ‘Grandpa Fountain Pen’ - Zhai Jinsheng. 

This elderly man who has been diligently painting at Zhongshan Square in Shenyang has gone viral online recently. Day after day, passersby spot him sitting under the tree, lost in his craft. With just a fountain pen and a sketchpad, he immortalizes the city’s landscapes in intricate strokes. His remarkable skill has earned him a fond nickname among locals: ‘Grandpa Fountain Pen’. 

‘Grandpa Fountain Pen’ - Zhai Jinsheng, is now 88 years old, and has been creating fountain pen drawings for over 30 years. His latest artwork ‘Zhongshan Square’ now stretches nearly four meters long. 

Zhai Jinsheng, ‘Grandpa Fountain Pen’

“This is the police station. I eyeballed the proportions. When you've drawn as long as I have, you can feel the right proportions.”

Miss. Liu, Passersby

He paints so well. All my colleagues are his fans.

Since retiring in 1994, Grandpa Zhai has painted nearly 10,000 fountain pen drawings and worn out more than a hundred pens. His most famous work is a long scroll depicting Beiling Park.

Zhai Jinsheng, ‘Grandpa Fountain Pen’

“I spent 2 years on this painting, drew over 1,400 portraits, every historic building and the famous pine tree at Beiling Park. I want to put Shenyang on the map through my art!" 

What sets his work apart is his unique ‘architectural dissection’ technique—using meticulously layered lines to mimic textures of brick and stone, while subtle shading captures the dance of light across time. Shenyang’s ever-changing cityscape is his muse: from the Sari Pagoda of 20 years ago to the Forbidden City a decade later, from celebrities’ historic residence to today’s bustling Zhongshan Square. His sketches are more than art—they’re a living chronicle of Shenyang’s evolution, blending grand history with everyday charm, creating with the deepest love that Grandpa Zhai holds for his hometown. 

Zhai Jinsheng, ‘Grandpa Fountain Pen’

“I do all my pen drawings live at the scene. I've got a real knack for those long scrolls that capture history and everyday life. Maybe centuries from now, folks will look at my work and see what people wore and how they lived in our time.”

Beyond his hometown, he’s traveled to 17 provinces, sketching China’s natural and cultural wonders. He has also taught over 100 students for free.

In a fast-paced world, his quiet perseverance has made him a beloved piece of Shenyang’s story.