Artists lead renaissance of ancient Chinese village
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E-mail Xinhua, April 9, 2018
Leaving behind their jobs, houses and lives in the cities, a group of artists went to a remote ancient Chinese village and made it their new home.
Longtan village, tucked deeply in the mountains in Pingnan County, east China's Fujian Province, has seen painters, designers and freelancers flock there since 2017.
"We couldn't believe it at first," said Chen Ziban, a local villager. "Young people used to leave here for jobs in the cities, now it's the other way around."
Two years ago the village, now with a registered population of more than 1,000, had only around 200 residents living there. The local school was shut down and houses were abandoned.
Last year, the local government launched a project to boost ancient villages through cultural and creative industries.
"The best way to revive the village is to bring talent in," said Lin Zhenglu, who is in charge of the project to revive Longtan village. Born in Fujian, Lin spent many years teaching painting in Shanghai.
"Many people in the cities envy life in the countryside, especially one with a rich history and culture," Lin said. "But they also worry about the poor living conditions."
Lin's plan includes renovating traditional houses and teaching villagers to paint. The former helps draw people in, and the latter, Lin said, makes the artists stay.
The old houses, once forgotten, have been connected to public utilities, reinforced and decorated inside.
One house has been changed into a museum for Siping Opera, the traditional form of opera once considered lost but later found well preserved in Longtan village.
The others are put up for a fixed-term rent for 15 years. With around 200,000 yuan (31,724 U.S. dollars), one can rent a three-floor house for 100 square meters.
So far, more than 50 houses have been rented, mostly by Lin's artist friends and previous students.
"The village stands out with lush mountains, unique buildings and gifted villagers who can paint pictures. It's a great destination for artists," Lin said.
Many artists have come for a "different lifestyle," where they can be close to nature, appreciate local culture while running businesses. Some have converted their houses into personal studios, bookstores, bistros, pubs and cafes.
"The Internet, e-commerce and a fast logistics system have made life away from cities much easier," said 32-year-old Zeng Wei, a bookstore owner and a new inhabitant of village.
Attracted by the beautiful scenery and Siping Opera, Zeng decided to move to the village. He changed the first floor of his house into a bookstore, and plans to make cultural products based on opera.
He also helped local villagers sell farm products online. Last year, villagers sold around 500 kilograms of persimmon, raking in more than 20,000 yuan, with his help.
As more people came, Lin re-established the elementary school and invited his friends and qualified new inhabitants to teach.
Zeng's wife is now teaching Chinese in the school and Gao Rongrong, a former freelance translator in Shanghai and a student of Lin, teaches English.
"I didn't hesitate to come here when Lin called," said Gao, who is also a cartoonist. "It's so beautiful and I like the old houses. It's like walking in history."
Gao created a series of cartoons themed on a girl traveling in the pictures of the traditional village.
In one of the works, a smiling girl with a pink dress leans forward against a worn-out stone wall of a traditional house, poking her head out as if she was playing hide-and-seek.
The series of cartoons went viral, and got 500,000 views on Weibo, China's answer to Twitter.
"I am happy that people have got to know the village and its beauty through my work," Gao said. "I'll keep creating."
Though away from the city, Gao said she still finds the village "full of energy." Musicians gather regularly in the pub and play live music.
"Many elderly villagers come to watch their performances," Chen said. "I think they feel less lonely here than staying at home in the evening."
Chen's son Chen Zhongye, a 24-year-old graphic designer working in the provincial capital Fuzhou, is considering moving back after seeing all the changes in the village.
"Sometimes I stayed up late to watch the videos about our village that my father sent in our group chat," said Chen Zhongye, referring to the village WeChat group of 404 people.
"Now with so many artists coming, I think more possibilities and opportunities will come in the future." Chen Zhongye said.
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