Prosperous Suzhou

After the Qianlong Emperor toured southern China in 1751, he wanted the wealth and order of his reign set down in paint. The task went to Xu Yang, a painter born in Suzhou, one of the richest cities of the empire, and it took him years. The result is a handscroll more than 12 metres long that carries you on a journey, from the hills outside the city, in through its crowded streets and canals, and out to Tiger Hill beyond. Nearly 5,000 figures crowd it, along with hundreds of boats and shops, every one a quiet argument that the emperor's China was thriving and at peace. Xu Yang blended the flat traditions of Chinese painting with the shading and perspective then arriving from Europe. In his closing inscription he wrote that he made it to honour a prosperous age.