Masterpiece 'Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains' returns to public view in Hangzhou

The Remaining Mountain Scroll, one of the two surviving sections of the masterpieceDwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, is on display at Zhejiang Museum. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

More than six centuries after Yuan-Dynasty (1271–1368) painter Huang Gongwang created his masterpiece Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, the only surviving section of the scroll —The Remaining Mountain Scroll— is once again on display at the Zhejiang Museum's Zhijiang branch and will last until Dec 7.

Before the museum even opened, eager visitors lined up outside. Some had traveled from afar, hoping to make up for missed chances in past exhibitions.

Inside the Fuchun Hall, the scroll unfurls slowly behind glass — delicate yet powerful, as if bridging 600 years of history.

Regarded as one of China's 10 Greatest Handscrolls,Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountainswas originally about 7.5 meters long, depicting tranquil rivers, misty hills, and rustic dwellings. The work was tragically split into two after a fire during the late Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) —The Remaining Mountain Scroll, now kept at Zhejiang Museum, andThe Master Wuyong Scroll, housed in Taipei's National Palace Museum.

Though partially damaged,The Remaining Mountain Scrollretains Huang's signature serenity and depth — gentle brushwork rooted in the traditions of master painters Dong Yuan and Juran, with ink washes that evoke the enduring vitality of Fuchun's landscape.

According to curator Xie Jialing, this is already the eighth public showing of the piece in the past decade — a remarkable frequency for a fragile Yuan-Dynasty painting. To balance preservation and public access, the museum now plans to implement an annual limited exhibition policy, allowing the ancient masterpiece to "rest" between displays while continuing to inspire generations to come.

People wait in line to see the work. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]