山水 Shānshuǐ

In ancient China, there lived an artist who thought himself the best realism painter in all of China. When the emperor invited all the great artists to present their finest work so that he may chose his portraitist, the artist was certain he would be chosen. However, when he presented his masterpiece to the emperor's chief minister, the old man laughed and told him to travel to 漓江 (Lí Jiāng), the Li River, where he could learn from the greatest master.

The rejected artist, in tears, left in search of the elusive master. At the bank of the 漓江 (Lí Jiāng), he asked the villagers where he could find the great master. The villigers directed him down the river. The next morning, the artist rented a boat and gently flowed down the river path. He was greeted with exceptional scenic beauty of mists rising past majestic waterfalls and towering mountains all reflected in the crystalline surface of the river, the 山水 (Shānshuǐ) humbled him. The 漓江 (Lí Jiāng) had revealed the greatest master of all, Mother Nature.

The legendary 漓江 (Lí Jiāng) originates in the Mao’er Mountains in Xing’an County in China. It is one of China’s most famous scenic areas, featured in many scroll paintings.