Grandma lives on in actress' writing

A painting by Ni Ping. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The newest version includes one article from her son, revealing a bigger picture of the family story.

Her colleague Bai Yansong says he hopes that more people would be interested in digging out and recording their own personal family history like Ni did, which will make good reads and leave stories for future studies.

Bai says the book also shows Ni's skillful and sincere ways of talking with the elder people. "Our grandparents may have stories as many as Ni's, but we just don't talk to them about that," he adds, thinking Ni knows the right way to treat and respect her elders.

Jing Yidan, another CCTV anchor, praised the writer's precise and vivid language in the book, adding that Ni is a versatile talent in speaking, painting and writing.

Ni, born in 1959, has published several books, including a collection of essays on her personal life, Days, which sold more than a million copies.

Ni picks up a childhood interest in drawing and paints to release longings for her grandma. Her paintings have been exhibited and published in collections.

"Grandma is the one who not only allows me to leave graffiti everywhere, but also to plays with the images as if they were alive, which has encouraged me greatly," Ni says.

An audio book, read by the author herself, is also available online.