Overview

A celebrated dance poetry drama that brings the legendary Chinese painting 'A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains' to life on stage. Produced by the Palace Museum, China Oriental Performing Arts Group Co., Ltd., and People.cn Co., Ltd., this production has toured for over 968 days, visiting more than 60 cities with over 500 performances. In 2024, it has embarked on an international tour, having already performed in Singapore and scheduled for Turkey, Canada, Russia, Japan, and more.

Performance Structure

• Genre: Poetry drama
• Chapters: Unrolling the Scroll, Inquiring about Seal Script, Singing of Silk, Seeking Stones, Practicing the Brush, Tempering Ink, and Entering the Painting
• Perspective: The audience follows a modern-day Palace Museum researcher, known as the 'Scroll Opener,' on a journey through the legendary charm of traditional Chinese aesthetics.

Narrative & Theme

The play employs a non-linear, time-crossing narrative structure. The story is set at two pivotal moments: the imminent exhibition of 'A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains' in the present day and the moment nearly a millennium ago when the young painter Ximeng was about to complete the masterpiece. Through deep study of the painting, the Scroll Opener enters Ximeng's inner world, witnessing the painstaking process of its creation. This connection explores the 'unique brilliance across a thousand years' of the painting and the emotional bond between national treasures and modern audiences.

Visual Experience

The stage creates a rich, layered pictorial realm:

• A bright moon shines across the millennia, illuminating a moment where the Scroll Opener and Ximeng lock eyes.
• Dedicated cultural heritage workers from the Palace Museum and diligent ancient craftsmen converge to form a vivid, emotionally resonant humanistic painting.