Poster of the TV series Riverside Code at Qingming Festival. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
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.
Poster of the TV series Riverside Code at Qingming Festival. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
