The Context podcast

A City on a Scroll: Discovering 18th-Century Suzhou

10/27/2026

The Context

0:00

14:20

Today, we’ll talk about Prosperous Suzhou, an extraordinary 18th-century Chinese painting that captures the bustling streets, busy waterways and everyday lives of one of China’s great commercial cities, while revealing a remarkable story of imperial ambition, cultural heritage and a long journey home.

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