Artists help revamp traditional village in Huaxi district

An overview of Zhenshan village in Shiban town, Huaxi district [Photo/huaxi.gov.cn]

Beautiful rural scenery and a recent infusion of rich artistic creativity are luring crowds of visitors to Zhenshan village – located in Huaxi district of Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province.

First built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the charming traditional village where Bouyei and Miao people live faces water and backs onto a mountain. Its rows upon rows of stone houses with complete courtyards have made the village famous among artists.

"We saw that many traditional houses here were idle. It is a pity and I wanted to contribute something to the village's development," said Gu Jiajun, a guest professor with the School of Fine Arts at Guizhou Normal University, who came up with the idea of moving his studio to Zhenshan in 2018. 

A charming traditional dwelling in Zhenshan village [Photo/huaxi.gov.cn]

Since then, more people who love art have come to the village and participated in the renovation of old residences into art spaces, while preserving their traditional style. 

"A total of 17 old residences are rented to artists," said Li Liangping, a senior official of the village.

"Based on certain themes and landscapes, these residences are renovated with elements added – such as art studios, homestays, ceramics and sculptures – making the village become more artistic," Li added.

The revamped houses retain the cultural characteristics but are revitalized with artistic charm, attracting many tourists and boosting local economic development.

"Every artist is a promotion ambassador," Li said. "We have organized cultural activities that are popular with young people. Villagers are also participating in the reconstruction of the old residences, learning restoration techniques for traditional architecture and increasing their incomes."

Moving forwards, plans are for Zhenshan village to focus on revitalizing idle houses and introducing more artists, to improve the local landscape through artistic creation and enable more people to learn about and love the village.