Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting

“The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting” is a poetic dance drama divided into seven chapters: “Unfolding the Scroll,” “Tracing the Seal,” “Reeling the Silk,” “Pursuing the Stone,” “Making the Brush,” “Grinding the Ink,” and “Into the Painting.” The show tells the story of a modern-day cultural relic researcher who, on the eve of an exhibition of A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains, delves into the inner world of the Northern Song Dynasty painter Ximeng. Transported back 900 years, the researcher witnesses the young artist’s dedication as he collaborates with countless artisans to create this timeless scroll. Through movement and visual staging, the production brings to life the grandeur of China’s landscapes and bridges past and present.

Since its premiere at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing in August 2021, the poetic dance "The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting" has become a phenomenon-level cultural IP. The show has toured more than 80 cities in China and performed in countries such as Singapore and Turkey, with over 920 performances to sold-out audiences. It has won several awards, including China's highest prize for the arts—the 17th Wenhua Award—and the 2022 China Copyright Gold Award. The show's international popularity surged after being featured on CCTV's Spring Festival Gala, reaching an audience of over 10 billion and sparking the "action of Green" trend.