As the 2023 SIP Reading Season kicked off in SIP on Apr 22, the ancient-style fair soon became one of the most sought-after attractions at the event.
At the fair, scenes of Prosperous Suzhou (Gusu Fanhua Tu), a painting scroll finished by Suzhou-native court painter Xu Yang of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) in 1759, have been duplicated to reproduce the atmosphere of Suzhou in the mid-18th century.
Visitors can see people in ancient costumes working at the bookshop, drugstore, fan workshop, grain shop and teahouse, and those peddling agricultural products and making fishing net. They can also watch folk art performances, and try to arrange flowers and decorate the surface of a fan with their paintings.
There is even the “rainbow-shaped bridge”, an important element in the ancient painting, and the imitations of the scenes around the bridge.
Visitors can check the map at the entrance of the fair to ensure a better experience, and visit the “Cloud Fair” online to learn more about it.
