Tonglu brings legendary ancient painting to life

Actors are seen in Yan Ziling Angling Terrace, a renowned scenic attraction in Tonglu county in East China's Zhejiang province, during the May Day holiday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Visitors to Yan Ziling Angling Terrace, a renowned scenic attraction in Tonglu county in East China's Zhejiang province, during the recent May Day holiday had the chance to be enthralled by an immersive tour experience.

Professional actors were assigned to play roles including fisherman, scholar and woodcutter in 12 designated places in the scenic spot.

These actors would also greet or interact with visitors, making them feel as if they were walking in the legendary Chinese painting Dwelling in Fuchun Mountains.

Yan Ziling Angling Terrace is one of the places depicted in the painting that was created by master painter Huang Gongwang in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

More than 80 percent of the scenery depicted in Dwelling in Fuchun Mountains is from Tonglu, where Huang lived in seclusion in his later years.

The move to bring the ancient painting back to life comes as part of local tourism authorities' latest efforts to boost local tourism by leveraging the popularity of Memory of Jiangnan, a performance which used a three-dimensional rendition of Dwelling in Fuchun Mountains as the backdrop. The painting had captivated audiences nationwide during the Spring Festival gala broadcast on China Central Television on Jan 31, the eve of the Lunar New Year.

Actors are seen in Yan Ziling Angling Terrace, a renowned scenic attraction in Tonglu county in East China's Zhejiang province, during the May Day holiday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]