In recent years, arts-related activities — such as photography exhibitions, concerts and street dances — have become popular in the countryside in South China's Guangdong Province. Culture and fine arts are enriching the rural residents' lives. 

[Photo from Huang Jianquan]

Optimism, Confidence

Huang Jianquan, 26, teaches the arts class in a school in Jinshi Town, in Chaozhou, a city in Guangdong. Huang's hometown is in Jinshi. After college graduation and returning to the hometown in early 2021, Huang noticed children in the area's villages had few opportunities to attend arts-related activities. Therefore, Huang had an idea: To teach street dancing — a relatively new dance form to children in the countryside. 

Huang was supported by the school's principal, and started by establishing a locking-dance team, composed of students in grades 1 and 2. Huang taught locking dance to boys and girls, mostly aged 7 and 8, and recorded videos of the children practicing their dancing and posted the videos on the Internet. Within a few days, the team had received more than a million "thumbs up" from netizens. 

During the past two years, the locking-dance team has become well known in Jinshi. The team has been invited to perform in the area's villages. The team has also participated in performances broadcast by the local TV station. 

In Huang's opinion, street dancing can help children in rural areas develop a positive life attitude. The dancers learn to be optimistic, and they develop and display their self-confidence. Street dancing also enriches the arts and sports courses provided to students of rural schools. 

"We have organized street dancing competitions among teams from various villages. We have also participated in formal performances and training sessions. In this way, residents in the countryside have broadened their horizons about cultural communications, and they have strengthened connections and cooperation with each other," Huang says. 

Huang, who is working to improve the dance class, hopes to combine street dancing with folk dancing, folk music, and cultural elements derived from ancient Chinese poetry. Huang wants more and more children in the countryside to gain artistic inspiration from dancing, so they will dream higher about their colorful lives. 

[Photo by Zhang Xiangliang]

'Bond' with Hometown 

Have you ever thought about holding a photography exhibition in an ancient rural community in China? A group of young people in Fengshun County, in Meizhou, another city in Guangdong, have made their idea come true. 

In October 2023, photographers, all natives of Jianqiao (a town in Fengshun County), displayed a combined 200 photos they had taken, during the past two decades, about rural life in Jianqiao. The special photography exhibition attracted many spectators from villages in this area. "Our Jianqiao Town is hosting a photography exhibition!" one villager said. "Isn't this (a photo of) me, more than 10 years ago? Come and have a look!" added another villager. 

Zhang Mingshu was one of the curators. In 2006, Zhang developed an interest in taking photos of Jianqiao, to record changes in the countryside. Last summer, Zhang noticed many young people in Jianqiao also liked to take photos depicting rural life. "Why don't we organize a photography exhibition for our fellow villagers?" Zhang shared this idea with other photographers and immediately received their support. They were glad when village cadres and young people working and living in the town helped arrange the exhibition. 

[Photo by Zhang Mingshu]

"Exhibiting old photos in an ancient town made Jianqiao known to visitors. Some villagers, who were working in other places, heard the news that our hometown was hosting a photography exhibition. They sent messages to us (organizers) to praise us for our meaningful deed," Zhang says. 

A woman spectator caught Zhang's attention during the exhibition, in particular. "The woman said life was poor when she was young. Her family did not keep many old photos. She was surprised to see a photo of her brother, taken by me. She was so happy, and she asked me if I could give her the original photography file, so her family could keep the precious photo." Organizers had hoped to convey such sentiment, Zhang noted, "Everyone can show his/her concern and support for the hometown's development, through a way he/she is good at." 

Zhang Heyuan, chief curator of the exhibition, says the photography exhibition has reminded people of their emotional "bond" with hometown, and has raised the public awareness of making contributions to rural revitalization by organizing and/or participating in cultural activities. 

[Photo from Sun Xinxin]

Concerts Highlight Unique Charm of Island Village 

Mayu Island is a small, charming island in Shantou, in eastern Guangdong. Mayu Village is the only village on the island, which is administered by Shantou. In recent years, more than 4,000 public cultural spaces have been established in Guangdong to enrich residents' cultural activities, including MASULAND, on Mayu Island. Based on a bookstore facing the sea, the cultural space, MASULAND, also provides accommodations and catering services. 

Since June 2022, concerts with various themes have been organized on the island, says Jiang Xun, who is in charge of cultural and tourist programs launched by MASULAND. 

"Concerts organized by MASULAND highlight the unique charm of the natural environment on this island. With the sea as a background, we invite audiences to take their seats on the grassland by the sea. They feel close to nature as they listen to beautiful melodies, while being 'embraced' by the sea breeze, bright moon and starlight," Jiang says. 

The small island seems as if it were "awaken" by music. "Each concert attracts more than 100 viewers in general, many of whom like to visit the island in advance to have a meal or coffee. More importantly, visitors post photos and videos they have taken on the island to their social-media platforms. This has helped Mayu Island become known by more and more people, nationwide," Jiang adds.

(Women of China English Monthly January 2024)