Visitors are queuing for up to six hours to view China’s most famous traditional scroll painting, Along the River during the Qingming Festival, which is on temporary display for the 90th anniversary of the transformation of the Forbidden City into the Beijing Palace Museum. Attributed to Zhang Zeduan (1085-1145), the Song-era painting depicts life in Bianjiang, now called Kaifeng, in Henan Province. Even reproductions of the scroll, such as a digital, animated version shown during the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, have proved blockbusters. The painting is on display with 283 works from the Qing emperors’ collection (until 12 October). It is next due to be shown in 2020 for the 600th anniversary of the Forbidden City.
