Rivers
At the harvest festival, the three friends admire the beautiful landscape, especially the enchanting river. This river is later the inspiration for the painting "Along the River at Qing Ming". This painting symbolizes memories, and a connection to the past.
Dreams
Dreams are present throughout the novel, as we hear Mei Lan's story through CC's dreams. As such, there is almost a dreamlike quality to the story, which makes the events seem extraordinary and exciting. When in the hospital, CC is looking through a book, and sees a painting called Along the River at Qing Ming that seems familiar to her. During her time in hospital she experiences dreams that are bizarre but also familiar. During a hypnotherapy session she gives details of the painting and how it was created. Her story seems almost like a dream, and as readers we are unsure how she has accumulated this accurate historical information through her dreams.
Bird Imagery
The imagery of birds is referred to often in the novel. For example, Doctor Allen tells CC to "spread her wings a little." This is the idea that she should be freer and more adventurous. Later in the book, Ah Zhao buys caged pigeons from the market and sets them free. This illustrates the theme of freedom in the novel. Many of the characters don't feel free, from Zhao being a servant, to Mei Lan refusing to get married.
