Museum Updates
Ancient painting depicts a poetic spring gathering with Li Bai
Updated: Mar 31, 2026
China Bound
Print
Share - WeChat
Cui Zizhong (1594-1644), a late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) artist, brought to life an essay written by Li Bai (701-762) after his famous spring night banquet in a garden of peach blossoms.
In the painting, Li Bai sits with hair tied, cup in hand. One friend is already tipsy, while the other turns back as if giving instructions to two attendants behind him. A maid reaches up to trim the candle wick. And all around, peach blossoms "glow" in the night like a sky full of stars.
Now housed at the Shandong Museum, this painting invites you to step back in time into a poetic spring gathering under blooming peach trees.
Features
Intangible Cultural Heritage
Captivating craftsmanship of dragon and phoenix bronze mirror
Cultural Exchange
Shanghai tea salon in London brews cultural ties
