Restoration builds on tradition of bustling commercial activity

In his studio in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, print artist Gu Zhijun is carefully making a more than 1-meter-long woodblock print, a masterpiece that has consumed five years of his dedicated work and remains unfinished. It is his tribute to the city of Suzhou.

It vividly captures the bustling splendor of the Changmen area during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).Inside and outside the city gate, shops line the streets, and people bustle about, creating a lively scene. Several rivers converge here, and the docks are teeming with boats coming and going, painting a picture of dynamism and prosperity.

Gu is an inheritor of Taohuawu woodblock printing, a traditional form of folk art known for its vibrant colors, vivid patterns, and diverse themes, and depictions of folk customs and legends.