Time: Sept. 8, 2015 - Nov. 8, 2015

The Palace Museum in Beijing will display authentic Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival (Qingming Shanghe Tu) from September 8 to November 8 in an exhibition titled “The Precious Collection of the Stone Moat”.

One of the most famous Chinese paintings, the artwork called “China’s Mona Lisa”, was created by Zhang Zeduan during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). It depicts the buildings and daily life in the ancient capital of Bianjing, today’s Kaifeng in Henan province.

Three years ago, the portion of the artwork was revealed in Hong Kong and Japan. But this exhibition marks the first time in nearly a decade that the entire 5.82 meter scroll painting will be on display. The last time Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival was revealed in its entirety was ten years ago when the museum celebrated its 80th anniversary.

The exhibition will showcase a total of 283 treasures, largely from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) at the museum’s Hall of Martial Valor (Wuyingdian) and Palace of Prolonging Happiness (Yanxigong).

Other rare works on display include the Stone Moat, known in Chinese as Shiqu Baoji, is a royal inventory compiled by 31 top-level scholars and art appraisers during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-96). Letter to Boyuan, by Wang Xun (349-400), is the only surviving calligraphy from the Jin Dynasty (265-420) with an authentic signature by the writer. Five Oxen, by Han Huang (723-787), is the earliest surviving Chinese painting drawn on paper. Spring Excursion, by Zhan Ziqian (545-618), is one of the oldest surviving Chinese landscape paintings.

Wi-Fi will be available inside the exhibition, and visitors can scan a QR code beside for nearly one-third of the exhibits to access an audio learning guide.

Add: Palace Museum, No. 4, Jingshan Front St., Dongcheng District, Beijing (北京市东城区景山前街4号)

Source: china.org.cn