Is it infringement to turn photography into painting?

Photography into painting is not infringing. According to relevant laws and regulations, if the expression of works created by different authors on the same subject is independent and creative, the authors shall be deemed to enjoy independent copyright.

Legal objectivity:

The Supreme People's Court's Interpretation of Several Issues Concerning the Application of Laws in the Trial of Copyright Civil Disputes Article 15 A work created by different authors on the same theme shall be regarded as having independent copyright if the expression of the work is independently completed and creative. Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Laws in the Trial of Copyright Civil Disputes Article 18 The works of art in outdoor public places as stipulated in Item (10) of Article 22 of the Copyright Law refer to sculptures, paintings, calligraphy and other works of art set up or displayed in outdoor public places. A person who copies, paints, photographs or videos a work of art specified in the preceding paragraph may reuse its achievements in a reasonable way and within a reasonable scope, and it does not constitute infringement.