Early this year, the Palace Museum in Beijing announced its plan to exhibit A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains, one of the ten most famous Chinese paintings. This long-awaited exhibition of this famous painting from Northern Song period is going to take place in September, confirmed by director of the museum Shan Jixiang. Make sure you don’t miss this rare opportunity.

A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains was painted by Wang Ximeng at the age of 18. Wang was a renowned court painter in Northern Song, excelled in drawing landscape paintings of mountains and rivers. Wang got admitted to Hanlin Imperial Painting House in Zhenghe era (1111-1118) and was personally mentored by the Emperor Huizong of Song. Minister Cai Jing later got the painting and wrote down the above anecdote on the inscription.

Part of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains

The 12-meter-long scroll A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains is Wang’s only work that has been passed down to the present. The scroll depicts the scenery of beautiful mountains surrounded by vast rivers, embellished by pavilions, cottages, water mills and long bridges in the middle. The work captures vivid images of fishing, sailing, travelling and flying birds, illustrating the nature’s spectacles. 

Part of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains
 
The Palace Museum had exhibited the scroll for a few times only – once in the ‘50s, the ‘80s, then year 2009 and year 2013 the latest. It is said that the scroll was painted with thick layers of different mineral pigments. Tiny pieces of the thousand-year-old painting fall off every time it is unrolled. The painting therefore seldom makes public appearances. 

Part of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains

Besides A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains, top 10 famous Chinese paintings also include: Nymph of the Luo River, Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, Spring Morning in the Han Palace, One Hundred Horses, Emperor Taizong Receiving the Tibetan Envoy, Noble Ladies in Tang Dynasty, Five Oxen and Han Xizai Gives a Night Banquet.

"Exhibition on A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains"

Exhibition period: September 2017 (Exact dates to be announced)
Venue: Meridian Gate Gallery, the Palace Museum

The Palace Museum

Opening hours: 8:30am - 5pm
Address: 4 Jingshan Qianjie, Beijing
Admission fee:
Peak-season tickets (1st April - 31st October)｜RMB 60 (Excluding the Antiquarium and the Hall of Clocks and Watches)
Off-peak-season tickets (1st November - 31st March)｜RMB 40 (Excluding the Antiquarium and the Hall of Clocks and Watches)
Students｜RMB 20 (with valid ID required)
Seniors aged 60 or above, children below 1.2m and people with disabilities｜Free
Enquiries: +86 10 8500 7421