Classic book on Song capital gets new life with republication

Dongjing Menghua Lu (Prosperous Record of Song Dynasty (960-1279) Capital Dongjing), a book first released nearly 1,000 years ago, was republished in May with explanatory notes.

Written in 1147 by Meng Yuanlao, the book is considered a text version of the classic Chinese painting Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival.

From the city's layout, restaurants and stores to the customs and etiquette back then, the book recorded the capital’s life at the time, serving as an immersive tour of the Song capital.

The explanatory notes are written by Hou Yinguo, who has researched and collected plenty of history and materials to provide background on the classic book.