A Village Glowing with Art

Text by Tian Xiao

Photos courtesy of New Youth Art Society

“At first sight,we wanted to stage our works here and were already confident that Banshan Village would attract more art enthusiasts.”

Banshan Village,with its guesthouse Wanggui Homestay transformed from ancient dwellings,is rich in traditional cultural elements,attracting numerous tourists to stay.

B anshan Village is nestled in Meixian Town,Youxi County of Sanming City,Fujian Province,where the tranquil mountain and aquatic scenery is nothing short of breathtaking.Adding to its allure,the village has proudly preserved 12 ancient buildings dating back to the Ming(1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911)dynasties to showcase a wealth of traditional architectural culture.At the heart of the picturesque setting is the New Youth Art Society,co-founded by the young artist duo Zhou Qing and Hong Wei.They ingeniously breathed new life into ancient residences and transformed them into theaters,guesthouses,and cafés,solidifying the area’s status as a must-visit hotspot for tourists.

Boasting beautiful scenery,Banshan Village is nestled between the hills and the water.Many tourists come here to bask in the idyllic rural life it provides.

Zhou Qing is a dancer,and Hong Wei a musician.They both bring a wealth of experience from their respective realms.After tying the knot in 2012,they spent eight years residing in Waitongwu Village in Hangzhou,Zhejiang Province.During this period,they gathered a collective of artistic minds who shared their passion for enhancing rural revitalization with the transformative power of art.

On June 8,2020,Zhou and Hong embarked on their inaugural visit to the village in response to a warm invitation from Lin Shangdou,Party secretary of Banshan.They were instantly captivated by the allure of the traditional architecture there.“Every residence,from antechambers to door frames of the main hall,demonstrates the traditional architectural style of central Fujian,looking just like the stage sets we normally use,” remarked Zhou.Despite the houses being somewhat overrun with weeds at the time,Zhou could already envision the artistic beauty that would unfold post-renovation.He saw a bona fide small theater.“At first sight,we wanted to stage our works here and were already confident that Banshan Village would attract more art enthusiasts.”

Zhou Qing and Hong Wei chose to set up a base in Banshan Village.Over the subsequent three years,the couple founded the New Youth Art Society,breathed fresh life into ancient residences,and mobilized over 2,000 students and young artists to work as volunteers.Together,they seamlessly translated theoretical knowledge into the practical realm of rural revitalization.

Zhou Qing (left) and Hong Wei are performing by the lakeside in Banshan Village.

Zhou Qing (right) and Hong Wei are studying and practicing calligraphy in Banshan Village.

Zhou Qing (first left,front row),Hong Wei (second left,front row),and volunteers pose in front of the New Youth Art Society.

The milk tea shop of the New Youth Art Society attracts a lot of tourists.

Volunteers from the New Youth Art Society provide nature education for children in Banshan Village.

The New Youth Art Society has sown the seeds of arts in the hearts of local children,fostering a genuine appreciation that they can carry forward.The photo captures the kids immersed in play.

During the Spring Festival of 2023,Zhou Qing (right) and Hong Wei collaborated to perform the dance Reminiscence of Jiangnan at the New Youth Art Society.

Over the years,Zhou and Hong gave volunteers from Banshan Village vocal and dance training,in an effort to inspire a passion for the arts in fellow villagers.They established the Banshan Village Farmers’ Art Troupe and organized over 10 cultural events including the “Graceful Banshan”waterside stage performance and the Banshan Village Gala.Notable theatrical productions likeEtiquette WorldandKite Mistakewere carefully choreographed to lift villagers out of the fields and allow them to take center stage.The couple also embarked on nature education activities for village children,weaving artistic creation and cultural heritage into the fabric of everyday life for rural youth.

To promote Banshan Village to a wider audience,Zhou,Hong,and a team of enthusiastic young volunteers started livestreaming rural life.The videos attracted likes and attention from netizens worldwide,enticing numerous travelers to make pilgrimages to Banshan Village.Around the 2023 Spring Festival,the New Youth Art Society welcomed around 30,000 visitors in just 15 days.“Villagers set up stalls,and the growing influx of tourists also helped launch bed-andbreakfasts and dining spots in Banshan Village,” said Hong.On November 24,Zhou and Hong even hosted a folk music band from Malaysia.After stumbling onto the duo’s videos of the village and developing a keen interest in their work,the band reached out to Zhou Qing via social media about visiting the New Youth Art Society,seeking more insight into how art can drive rural development.

Seeking to boost villagers’income,volunteers launched training sessions on short video creation and livestreaming to teach locals how to leverage their smartphones to sell agricultural products through live broadcasts.Now,many volunteers have settled permanently in Banshan Village.Nurtured by the rich cultural heritage of the rural setting,they are actively engaged in artistic creation,injecting a fresh wave of vitality into the village.

The development model honed in Banshan Village is already spreading to more rural areas.Recently,the New Youth Art Society forged a collaboration agreement with Shujing Village in Taixi Township,Youxi County.The objective is to transform Shujing Village into a cultural and artistic community that resonates with the younger generation.“We seek to shine light on the poetic sentiment found in daily life and ensure every day radiates brilliantly,” said Zhou.“We firmly believe in the promising future afforded by illuminating rural areas with art.”

Zhou Qing performs a dance at the New Youth Art Society.