BEIJING (REUTERS) - Chinese artist Li Hongbo turned weapons into flowers in a colourful paper art exhibition in downtown Beijing.

The exhibition, Oceans of Flowers, presents a sprawling landscape of paper accordion decorations, which when folded, turn into weapons such as handguns, AK-47 assault rifles, and bullets.

Li said 2,000 "weapons" were used in the installation, which reflects his thoughts about desire, destruction, hatred and war.

He said by transforming a gun into a decoration, he wanted to show that people should turn hostility into friendship.

Around 300 visitors came to see his artwork on opening day. The exhibition was originally displayed in Sydney in 2012.

The current show is the first time Li has showcased his work on such a large scale in China and will run until July 20.