At the end of the Qianlong Emperor's 25th year on the throne (1761), the Directorate of the Imperial Observatory predicted that the astronomical phenomenon of the Sun and Moon coming together and the Five Planets lining up, an event known as a syzygy, would appear at a particular moment on the first day of the coming lunar year (corresponding to 11:15 on the morning of 5 February 1761).

The Sun and Moon coming together meant that they would rise at the same time; the Five Planets lining up meant that Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and Saturn would be almost aligned. Officials therefore predicted it would be a year of peace and bountiful harvest throughout the land . The court artist Xu Yang was then commissioned to make a painting to record this rare and auspicious omen. Also, on New Year's Day, civil and military officials enter the court to congratulate the emperor, and people throughout the capital go out to greet the New Year. This handscroll depicts the observatory , various courtyard residences ,and details as well as archways and city gates. There are festive scenes of people in different forms of clothing and transportation, and all sorts of shops and storefronts, fully reflecting the appearance of life in Beijing at the time.