A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains
The artist
Wang Ximeng, a talented young Chinese painter who created this masterpiece when he was only about eighteen years old.
What you see
A very long scroll showing endless green and blue mountains, rivers, tiny villages, bridges, and boats stretching across the land.
The story
Painted around 1113 during the Song dynasty, its full name means 'A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains,' showing a huge stretch of beautiful country.
The style
The artist used bright blue and green mineral colors made from crushed stones, which still glow after nine hundred years.
Look closer
If you look closely you can find tiny people fishing, walking, and working in little houses hidden among the giant mountains.
Where to see it
This treasured scroll is kept at the Palace Museum in Beijing, China, and is shown only rarely to protect its delicate colors.
Fun fact
The scroll is more than eleven meters long, so you unroll it little by little, like taking a slow journey through the scenery.