The Prosperous Suzhou Special Exhibition, jointly organized by Liaoning Provincial Museum and Suzhou Museum, will open at the Suzhou Museum West on July 11. Featuring 62 paintings and calligraphic works, the exhibition marks a major cultural collaboration between Liaoning and Jiangsu provinces. Fifty of the exhibits are masterpieces from the collection of the Liaoning Provincial Museum, forming the core of the show.
Spanning more than a millennium, from the Tang Dynasty (618–907) to the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911), the exhibition showcases masterpieces by celebrated Suzhou-born artists through the ages. Together, these works highlight the rich cultural heritage of Gusu, the ancient name for Suzhou, while illustrating the enduring elegance and artistic achievements of the Jiangnan school of painting and calligraphy. One of the exhibition’s highlights is Prosperous Suzhou, a monumental handscroll by Xu Yang, a Suzhou-born court painter of the Qing Dynasty. Measuring more than 12 meters in length, the national treasure begins at Lingyan Mountain and passes through Mudu Ancient Town, Hengshan, Shihu Lake, and Shangfang Mountain, traveling along the northern shore of Taihu Lake and between Lion Hill and He Hill before entering the city of Suzhou. The scroll then moves through Feng Gate, Pan Gate, Xumen Gate, and Changmen Gate, passes Shantang Bridge, and ends at Tiger Hill. Linking four major scenes: Shanqian Village, Mudu Town, Suzhou City, and Shantang Street, the painting vividly depicts the bustling markets, urban life, and landscapes of Qing-era Suzhou and is often described as a visual encyclopedia of the city during the Qing Dynasty.
In addition to Prosperous Suzhou, visitors will also have the rare opportunity to view several signature treasures from the Liaoning Provincial Museum, including Four Ancient Poems in Cursive Script by the Tang Dynasty master calligrapher Zhang Xu, Eight Immortals of the Winecup by the Ming Dynasty painter Tang Yin, and an anonymous Ming Dynasty version of Along the River During the Qingming Festival. The gathering of these renowned masterpieces in Suzhou offers an exceptional opportunity for art lovers and scholars alike.
To celebrate the exhibition and further promote cultural exchange between Liaoning and Jiangsu, the Suzhou Museum has launched a special complimentary admission program for visitors from Liaoning Province. On the exhibition’s opening day, 20 randomly selected Liaoning residents will receive free admission to the exhibition. The exclusive tour will include a professionally guided visit, offering participants in-depth insights into the historical significance, artistic excellence, and cultural stories behind each of the featured masterpieces.
Eligible visitors from Liaoning may register through the Suzhou Museum’s official WeChat account, Xiaohongshu (the RedNote), or Douyin platforms. Twenty participants will be selected at random. The museum also plans to launch additional “Invitation for Liaoning Visitors” events during the exhibition period. Interested visitors are encouraged to follow the museum’s official social media channels for the latest announcements and registration information.
