At the height of his career, Yves Saint Laurent held a 200-piece fashion exhibit at the Palace of Fine Arts in Beijing.
The clothes ranged from Mondrian-inspired dresses to wool suits, beaded tunics and slim skirts.
Born in 1936, Saint Laurent founded his eponymous fashion label in 1962 at age 26.
By the time he came to China, he had nearly three decades of fashion design under his belt. He was known for the relaxed elegance of his designs and his embrace of luxury ready-to-wear.
While in Beijing for the exhibition, he also visited Tiananmen Square, watched Peking Opera, and spoke to Chinese fashion students.
Of the visit, Saint Laurent said: “I have always been inspired by the art of China … China is the cradle of silk. Without China, maybe I wouldn’t be here.”