In this small courtyard lived the idols of Zheng Banqiao and Qi Baishi

The Jiangnan region is known for its outstanding people and rich cultural heritage, with Zhejiang Shaoxing being a prime example of this tradition. Throughout its history, Shaoxing has produced many cultural figures, including a painter named Xu Wei, who is one of the great masters of Chinese flower-and-bird painting. He pioneered the freehand brushwork style of flower-and-bird painting. To this day, the Palace Museum, the National Museum of China, the National Art Museum of China, and various provincial museums all vie to collect Xu Wei's flower-and-bird paintings. In his early years, Xu Wei pursued an official career, but unfortunately, his career was fraught with difficulties and setbacks. Later, he was imprisoned for killing his wife. In his later years, he was nearly insane and lived in poverty. Xu Wei's freehand brushwork in flower-and-bird painting was very avant-garde in style and was not appreciated by the aesthetics of his time. The art world of his era could not understand his freehand style. It was not until after the Qing Dynasty that people began to appreciate its artistic value. In terms of artistic innovation and life experience, Xu Wei can be considered the Van Gogh of China. Zheng Banqiao, one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou, greatly admired Xu Wei. Xu Wei's study was named 'Qingteng Studio,' so Zheng Banqiao carved a leisure seal for himself that read 'Follower of Qingteng,' expressing his immense respect for Xu Wei. Qi Baishi's freehand flower-and-bird paintings also followed Xu Wei's style. He admired Xu Wei immensely and once said, 'I regret not being born three hundred years earlier to grind ink and prepare paper for you,' meaning that it would have been an immense joy for him to grind ink and prepare paper for Xu Wei. Today, when we walk into the ancient city of Shaoxing and visit Qingteng Studio, we can reminisce about the tumultuous life of that great painter from 500 years ago. In front of the studio, there is a celestial pond and wisteria. To the east, there is a bamboo garden with scenic spots such as Zizai Rock and Tianhan Spring. The studio is not large but is exquisite and elegant, embodying the characteristics of a literati garden in Shaoxing. The celestial pond, Wisteria Pavilion, and Zizai Rock in the courtyard are all remnants from the Ming Dynasty. Important collections in Qingteng Studio include: Ming Dynasty Xu Wei's 'Cursive Script Five-Character Poem Scroll,' 'White Swallow Poem Scroll,' 'Sixteen Types of Flower Paintings Scroll'; Ming Dynasty Chen Laolian's 'Banana Shade and Bamboo Painting,' among others. Location: No. 10, Dacheng Alley, Qian Guan Lane, Jiefang Road, Yuecheng District, Shaoxing City.