The carving reproduces the boat with eight passengers, all carved to life-like perfection. The doors of the cabin in fact can be opened, revealing a bearded gentleman with a hat adorning his head. This is Su Tung-p'o. The boat also has an oarsman, and a scholar's servant preparing a meal of fish.
小舟上的窗門可隨意開闔，其中共有八個人物：倚窗而坐，綸巾長鬚者，想是主人翁蘇軾；舟尾奮力搖櫓的童子身邊，亦端坐一客；另一位客人，則在船頭眺望江天景色，也順便等待烹魚煮酒的小童起鍋么喝。