With the aid of extended reality technologies, visitors to the ongoing Expo 2020 Dubai will be able to travel through time, back to the bustling streets of Kaifeng — imperial capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).

At the China Cultural Center, people will find themselves surrounded by busy merchants, impressive architecture and bountiful landscapes, as depicted in the 12th-century Chinese painting Qingming Shanghe Tu ("along the river during the Qingming Festival"), now at the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing. There will, however, be some differences, as the scenes visitors will be immersed in are digitally generated images of a carved wood replica.

It took Ji Zhi over two years to craft the classical painting on a piece of rosewood, combining various techniques in traditional wood carving. The final presentation to be unveiled at the China Cultural Center will unfold a panoramic view of Chinese history, arts and crafts.