The famous picture “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” is a national treasure created by Zhang Zeduan during the North Song Dynasty. The picture is 24.8cm wide and 528.7cm long, vividly describing the city life in 12th century of China. Now the original works is stored in Palace Museum in Beijing, and the 3D vision is showcased in China Pavilion in Shanghai Expo Park.

The picture records the folk customs in the capital city – Bian Liang of North Song Dynasty, and it can be divided into three parts.

The first part illustrates the suburbs scenery in early spring. The morning fog veils the field, some cottages hide in a small grove, paths crisscross between the green fields, and people going to a fair and mules loading goods from different paths are heading to the city. Some large vessels are moored at the pier of Bian River, and one of them is full of cereals and workers are busy to transport.
Down along the glistening Bian River, the picture enters its second part. Residences are mounted, willow trees stand by the side of the river, and tables and stools are placed in tea houses bordering the river. Vessels come and go in the river, and a delicate arch bridge flies over the river like a rainbow connecting the banks. A wooden boat is about to cross the bridge, and its mast has been put down. Boatmen are handling the barge pole and twisting the ropes, while many people on the bridge stop to watch them. From their opening mouth and waving action, we seem to hear the boatmen’s chant sound and the crowd’s cheers.

Walking through a majestic gate tower, we come to the third part – the hustling and bustling downtown streets. The streets are lined with government mansions, residential courtyards, workshops, teahouses and grocery shops. Scholars, farmers, workers and businessmen, people from all levels of society flow into the streets. Males, females, the old and young are riding on a horse or sitting in a sedan chair, or just walking on the streets. What a prosperous view of the capital city! Heading forward, this is the imperial palace, and the picture ends there, leaving spaces for imagination to the audience.

“Along the River During the Qingming Festival” shows the scenes from the fields in countryside, banks of Bian River to the crowded downtown. Its large-scale diverse scenes deeply impress everyone who has ever watched it. According to statistics, there are over 550 of individual characters, 50 of livestock, 20 of vehicles and sedans, 20 of vessels, and 30 of kinds of buildings. Everything drawn on the picture achieves to a vivid realm, perfectly showing the drawer’s talent and outstanding drawing skill.

Want to see the real picture? When you travel to Beijing, you could find it in Gugong Palace Museum. When you visit Shanghai, you could see it in China Pavilion in Expo Park. Although Expo will end in October, China Pavilion will be kept permanently and then whenever you go, you could view the splendid picture. http://www.chinatouronline.com/