A Picturesque Kunshan: A Millennium-Spanning Dream of Bianliang

Who would have thought that the filming location of "The Code of Qingming Riverside," which captivated me with its Song Dynasty elegance, was not in the Central Plains' Bianliang, but in Jiangnan's Kunshan? While watching the drama, I was fascinated by the exquisite scenes and vibrant street life, and little did I know that fate was so wonderful—I only realized after the series ended that I had stepped into this "secret realm within a painting."【Sneaky smile】

The "Qingming Riverside·Secret Realm" lives up to its name. It is not simply a replica of ancient architecture but a 1:1 astonishingly accurate recreation that brings Zhang Zeduan’s legendary scroll to life, forming China’s largest and most meticulously crafted Song Dynasty live-action set. As I walked inside, time seemed to quietly fold—the millennium-old Rainbow Bridge stretched beneath my feet, and within the wooden mortise and tenon joints, the calls and oar sounds of the Bian River cargo boats still seemed to echo; jade towers and pavilions lined the streets, with vermilion lacquered carved railings and layered eaves, perfectly recreating the prosperous scenes from "Dreams of Splendor in Tokyo."

In the streets and alleys, shop signs fluttered, vendors shouted continuously, as if the morning market on Panlou Street had just opened. Pharmacies, tea houses, shoe shops, incense shops... every detail withstands scrutiny, with the bustling life of the city within reach. And the imposing Kaifeng Prefecture Office instantly transported me back to the legendary scene of Judge Bao’s wise judgments, its solemn atmosphere commanding respect.

Here, we are no longer mere spectators of a painting. Every step reveals a new scene, as if walking within the artwork; every glance and moment is a dream returning a thousand years. Each pause seems to catch the low murmurs of merchants, the crisp sound of horse hooves on bluestone; every turn feels like brushing past a Song Dynasty commoner or scholar, glimpsing the distant yet vivid human world.

Stepping into this secret realm is like falling into a flowing historical scroll. This is not just a check-in spot but a heartfelt dialogue across time with Song Dynasty civilization, a tangible experience of Bianliang’s splendor.

Post by Scarlett Hollister | Sep 27, 2025