On July 3rd, 2008, Mr. Yang Taiyang was awarded the honorary title of "People's Artist" in the centenary celebration hosted by the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and China Artists Association, and hosted by the Propaganda Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Party Committee, the Federation of Literary and Art Circles of the Autonomous Region and the People's Government of Guilin. A series of commemorative activities of "Yang Taiyang Century Art" were held in Guilin, including the first collection of Yang Taiyang's paintings, the retrospective exhibition of Yang Taiyang Century Art, and the academic seminar on Yang Taiyang Century Art. Ma Biao, deputy secretary and chairman of the Party Committee of the Autonomous Region, Shen Beihai, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Autonomous Region, Li Kang, secretary of the Guilin Municipal Party Committee, former deputy director of the People's Congress of the Autonomous Region, Feng Yuan, chairman of the Autonomous Region Federation of Literary and Art Circles, member of the Party Committee of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, secretary and vice chairman,
Shen Beihai, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Autonomous Region and Minister of Propaganda, presided over the awarding ceremony.
Ma Biao, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Autonomous Region and Chairman of the Autonomous Region, delivered a speech at the conference, and Mr. Xiang Yang awarded the honorary title certificate of "People's Artist".
Ma Biao said in his speech that awarding Mr. Yang Taiyang the honorary title of "People's Artist" is an important measure for Guangxi to respect outstanding cultural and artistic talents, encourage outstanding cultural and artistic talents to stand out and promote cultural construction in Guangxi. It is not only of great significance to promote the cultivation and development of Lijiang painting school, but also will have a far-reaching impact on accelerating cultural construction and promoting the great development and prosperity of cultural undertakings in Guangxi. In the new era and new situation, the vast number of literary and artistic work in the whole region should take Mr. Yang Taiyang as an example, learn from his lofty moral character of supporting the party, loving the motherland and loving the people, and learn from his rigorous scholarship, learning from others and pioneering and innovative spirit, so as to make new and greater contributions to the great development and prosperity of Guangxi's literary and artistic undertakings.