May 24, 2026

The Master of Horses and Mist: Xu Beihong’s Artistic Legacy in Guilin

Meet the founder

Eddie

Co-Founder, Deep Dive China

I grew up in the karst mountains of Guilin—China’s version of Yosemite and Innsbruck—but my journey took me through Cornell in the U.S., Europe, and Singapore. Living abroad taught me that the world sees our skyscrapers, but rarely our souls.

After years of living across the globe, I’m back home on a mission: to pull back the curtain on the real China through street-level conversations and deep cultural dives. I founded Deep Dive China to be the bridge I wish I had when I was traveling—showing you the hidden corners and authentic dialogue that guidebooks miss.

Whether you’re planning a journey to the East or you’re simply curious about China’s history and how the country is changing today, I’m here to help you make sense of it.

Bamboo raft and green Li River water among karst towers — Raft-level Li River rhythm — **distinct file** from the Lijiang diversity hero (*hero-li-river*) and from the Soul of the Scroll wide bend; matches Xu’s Yangshuo river years without recycling one Li River stock everywhere.

Xu Beihong’s galloping horses hang in every Chinese museum — fewer travelers know his Yangshuo seal read “A citizen of Yangshuo, Heaven.” Guilin raised me on those stories; here is the field map.

By Eddie · Asia Deep DiveChronicles · China’s Art & Art History7 min read

Pioneer of modern Chinese art

After Paris and Berlin study, Xu argued Chinese painting needed Western anatomical realism to stay alive. Presidency of CAFA followed, yet his practice stayed nomadic — Guilin was his favorite outdoor studio.

Love affair with the Li River

In the 1930s–40s he sheltered in Guangxi, living on West Street for more than a year. The carved seal Yangshuo Tian Min marks identity as landscape, not passport.

“To understand China’s soul, start with Li River mist.” — paraphrased studio lore.

Masterpieces born in the mist

Spring Rain on the Li River trades sharp edges for washes that feel like post-storm humidity lifting.

Rooster Crowing in the Storm (1937) weaponizes barnyard symbolism for national morale — painted while Guilin served as a cultural refuge.

Why sketch here now

Dawn light through fengcong karst still outruns cameras.
Yangshuo’s easel culture respects long sessions.
Supplies exist for student influxes — ask locals for brush weights suited to humidity.

FAQ

Former residence?
West Street memorial museum; verify hours before detour.

Matching his weather?
March–April drizzle delivers “spring rain” glaze.

Supplies?
Guilin shops stock professional grades; Yangshuo caters to travelers.

References

Xu Beihong Memorial Museum archives.
Modern Chinese Art: A History (Oxford University Press).
Guilin Cultural Bureau dossiers on Xu in Yangshuo.