Wang Ximeng created the Song-dynasty landscape scroll A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains.
Wang Ximeng painted the work in 1113, during the Northern Song dynasty, when he was reportedly only about 18 years old. The handscroll is celebrated for its sweeping mountains, waterways, architecture, and tiny human figures, all rendered in brilliant blue and green mineral pigments.
The painting measures more than 11 metres long, allowing its scenery to unfold gradually as the scroll is opened from right to left. Its scale and luxurious colors make it one of the best-known examples of the Chinese blue-and-green landscape tradition.
Wang Ximeng served at the imperial court but died young, and very few works are securely associated with him. The painting is sometimes confused with later literati landscapes, which generally favor more restrained ink washes rather than this spectacular, richly colored style.