Watch the video to learn more about the imperial celebrations of the Lantern Festival in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). [Video/zjol.com.cn]

The Banquet, a dance performance featuring cultural elements of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), premiered at the Deshou Palace in Hangzhou on Dec 31, local media outlets reported.

The dance was inspired by a classic work of Ma Yuan, a royal painter and one of four masters of the dynasty. The painting depicted scenes of the royal family celebrating the Lantern Festival, an important day for Chinese people that marks the end of family reunion during the Spring Festival.

Though a classical Chinese dance performance, the show has integrated some modern Chinese music and traditional dance combined with the creative techniques of modern dance, and features dancers, musicians, painters and ministers from the original painting.

In order to better restore the banquet of the royal family, the production team has referred to many historical documents, consulted experts, and worked out five chapters, including ministers receiving the imperial edict to attend the banquet, royal maids performing, the royal painter attending the banquet, and the emperor arriving.

The show was produced by the Shangcheng district bureau of culture, radio, television, tourism and sports, Shangcheng district cultural center, and Communication University of Zhejiang.

The Deshou Palace, or the Palace of Morals and Longevity, once served as a retreat for many emperors of the Southern Song Dynasty.