A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains -The story of a young painter and his legendary scroll

​"A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains" is a masterpiece of Wang Ximeng, an ancient painter of China's Northern Song Dynasty. While his epic work continues to amaze viewers with its striking beauty, the passionate young man and his creative journey are still a mystery today. This radio drama brings you the young painter's arduous and unforgettable journey in creating this painting!

In 1100, 19-year-old Zhao Ji ascended the throne, becoming the eighth emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, later known as Emperor Huizong of Song.

Clerk at the Hanlin Imperial Painting Academy Zhang Moyu received a recommendation letter and came to Central Fujian to scout for painting prodigies. He was elated to discover Wang Ximeng and Li Guisheng with their extraordinary talents.

In 1107, 12-year-old Wang Ximeng and 15-year-old Li Guisheng set out from their hometown in central Fujian. They travelled through Ganjiang River, Hongzhou, now arriving at the magnificent Pengli Lake. The water's surface is dotted with white sails. Mount Lushan stands shrouded in mist by the shore.

At 12 years old, Wang Ximeng passed the exam to become the youngest student at the Imperial Painting Academy. He studied under the guidance of great artists of the time in the next three years.

After three years of hard training, 15-year-old Wang Ximeng graduated from the Academy but failed to stay on as a royal painter. Instead, he was recruited to work in the Imperial Archives as a clerk and copied tax records for the next two years.

Wang Ximeng began his lessons with the Emperor. His horizons and techniques improved rapidly. To Emperor Huizong of Song, Wang Ximeng reminded him of the time of his youth. It seemed he had finally found the right person to fulfill his dream of painting the beautiful landscape that was under his reign.

Wang Ximeng and his friend Li Guisheng arrived in the south, known for beautiful sceneries. At the Rainbow Bridge in Suzhou they reunited with the boatman family that had ferried them across Pengli Lake five years ago. Wang Ximeng was only a boy then and now he is a painter by imperial order.

Wang Ximeng came back from his trip and threw himself into the creative process at once. He even moved his bed into the storeroom for efficiency. His passion burned fiercely in the cold archives as he put the beautiful scenery on the silk scroll.

By now, 18-year-old Wang Ximeng had spent half a year in the cold storeroom of the Imperial Archives working on his scroll painting. The Northern Song Dynasty was in a poor and gloomy state, but all the young painter could see were vibrant colors of the mountains and rivers of its landscape.