Chopsticks play an important role in Chinese food culture. They are called Kuaizi in Chinese and were called Zhu in ancient times. Chinese people have been using Kuaizi as one of the main tableware for more than 2,000 years. Chopsticks may be made of any of the several materials: bamboo, wood, gold, silver, ivory, pewter and plastics but bamboo and wood chopsticks are the most popular ones used in Chinese homes.

This pair of chopsticks are adorned with the famous Qing Ming Shang He Tu segments at both the chopsticks and chopstick rests.

清明上河圖 - Qing Ming Shang He Tu vividly presented the riverside scene at the day of the Qingming Festival was painted by one of the Song Dynasty's greatest artists, Zhang Zeduan (960 -1127 AD) about 980 years ago. The original is a very long hand painted silk handscroll and has been kept in the Palace Museum, Beijing, China. It is on the top list of Chinese art treasures in China and only shown to public every 25 years. The last exhibition of this painting was held in Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, China in early January 2003 and it attracted hundred thousands of visitors. The painting presents the busy life in an ancient Chinese capital city with fine details: a large rainbow bridge, busy streets, shops and restaurants, a river with boats, animals, carriages, trees, hundreds of people doing different things... 

Click here to see Qing Ming Shang He Tu in scrolling effect.