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Visitors view the famous scroll painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival in the Hall of Martial Valor in Beijing's Palace Museum on Sept 8, 2015. [Photo / Beijing Evening News]

People in long lines waited to enter the Hall of Martial Valor in Beijing's Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, on Tuesday. But that was to be expected.

The best-known scroll painting in Chinese art history－titled Along the River During the Qingming Festival－was completely unrolled for the first time since 2005.

The work by Zhang Zeduan (1085-1145), measuring 24.8 centimeters wide and 5.29 meters long, depicts a flourishing landscape in Bianjing, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Bianjing is today's Kaifeng in Henan province.

The scroll is only part of the special exhibition titled The Precious Collection of the Stone Moat, which includes 283 ancient paintings and calligraphy masterpieces once recorded in the Qing Dynasty emperors' catalog. The display is a main event celebrating the museum's 90th anniversary since opening to the public.

Only 200 people at time are allowed in the hall. Some visitors took out magnifying glasses to scrutinize the details, but they soon found it difficult to deal with impatient followers.

"It's so crowded, but it is worthwhile," said Shi Xuewen, a retired college professor who caught an early train from Tianjin just to view the treasures.

"I wish I could linger for a few more minutes in front of Along the River During the Qingming Festival," Shi said. "But the staff asked people to keep moving to avoid a traffic jam in the hall. It's too hasty to enjoy such a banquet of art."

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