Artistic endeavor transforms rural village into creative hub

Strolling through her home village of Caijiapo recently, Yu Xiaoqin stumbled across a photo exhibition. It was a pleasant surprise for the 72-year-old farmer, who had never encountered such a show before.

The theme of the photos was the folk arts of Northwest China's Shaanxi province and East China's coastal province of Fujian, including the Qinqiang Opera and the traditional waist drums, both of which Yu was familiar with. There are also pictures of Gaojia Opera and the Hakka earth buildings, which were a novelty to her.

Nestled in the Qinling Mountains, about 50 kilometers from Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi, Caijiapo was once typical of villages in this remote rural area. However, in recent years, it has received an infusion of artistic activity that has transformed the lives of residents.

The village is the venue for the Guanzhong Mangba Arts Festival, the fifth edition of which started on July 8. The monthslong event sees Caijiapo come to life with a range of artistic activities taking place throughout the summer, including a theater festival and exhibitions on themes related to rural life. It is named after the "Mangba" season, which is the period of rest after the summer harvest has been gathered.

"When I was a child, my family was so poor that I didn't attend a single day of school," says Yu.

Recalling life in Caijiapo more than two decades ago, she says the villagers lived a tough and basic existence. They walked on dirt roads, slept on heated earthen beds, and fired up clay ovens for cooking and heating. They worked hard to make ends meet, and had no time to appreciate the arts.

However, since the Mangba festival was first launched in 2018, it has transformed Caijiapo, bringing a range of artistic experiences to the residents, while boosting the local economy through cultural tourism. Visitors enjoy symphonies in wheat fields and attend art exhibitions, taking selfies and spreading the word through social media. They are joined by the many villagers who have embraced the arts, some of whom have become artists in their own right.