Iconic painting sets the scene for popular TV series

Over 1,000 years ago, artist Zhang Zeduan created his best-known handscroll masterpiece, Along the River During the Qingming Festival, depicting the prosperous life and landscapes of Kaifeng, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).

Recently, the painting, which features 824 figures, has been brought to life in the popular TV series Riverside Code at Qingming Festival, with its opening scene re-creating an iconic moment from the artwork: the crew of a large boat rushing to lower the masts as they realize it will struggle to pass under the archway of a bridge.

Since debuting on CCTV-8 and two major streaming platforms, Youku and Migu, on Dec 16, the 26-episode TV drama starring actor Zhang Songwen and actress Bai Baihe has received high praise for its intriguing blend of the painting's details with a suspenseful thriller narrative.

Adapted from the novel by writer Ye Wenbiao, the drama, hailed as a Chinese version of the Hollywood film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, following Zhao Buyou, a low-ranking official leading a tranquil life with his wife, a woman of mysterious origins he rescued by chance 14 years prior; however, their family is thrust into a high-profile case involving the disappearance of an entire crew aboard a cargo-laden commercial ship, and as the unconventional duo collaborates to unravel the mystery, a thrilling scheme begins to unfold.

On Saturday, the drama releases a seven-minute musical video that combined the painting's key elements with live-action scenes to depict the vibrant capital lifestyle of Kaifeng. The footage features residents from various walks of life, including stall sellers and cheerful children.