STORY: Mountain villagers' lives transformed by infusion of art
DATELINE: July 27, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:04
LOCATION: XI'AN, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of Caijiapo Village in China's Shaanxi Province
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): CUI KAIMIN, Lecturer from the Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts
3. various of tourists and art performance
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG HUITING, Cafe owner at Liyukou Village, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province
5. various of Caijiapo Village in China's Shaanxi Province
 
STORYLINE:
 
In the Qinling Mountains, about 50 km from Xi'an, the capital city of Shaanxi Province in China, there is a village that has undergone a remarkable transformation.
 
This is Caijiapo, a former impoverished village that has become a hub of artistic creation, a tourist attraction and a dream place for young entrepreneurs.
 
Since 2018, more than 100 artists have come to this village, bringing their talents and passions. Cui Kaimin was among the first to come.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): CUI KAIMIN, Lecturer from the Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts
"We have introduced a new way of thinking about art, and also various forms of art, such as symphonies, dramas, murals and installation art. Together with the villagers, we have helped locals to redefine the meaning and the value of life. We are also exploring how to help the villagers earn more money and make their lives more attractive, happier and wealthier."
 
Their artistic endeavors have gradually changed the face and the fate of Caijiapo.
 
Such transformations have inspired nearby villages to launch tourist-friendly projects of their own.
 
Liyukou Village, for instance, has built a "reception hall" to create a cultural industry cluster of rural manufacturers.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG HUITING, Cafe owner at Liyukou Village, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province
"We opened a cafe here, and use coffee as a medium to attract more urban residents to the countryside for consumption. Meanwhile, we encourage like-minded urban youths to work and live in the countryside and start their own businesses."
 
By exploring their own potential, more and more villages like Caijiapo and Liyukou have found their path of rural revitalization, bringing a more colourful and richer life to the rural residents.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Xi'an, China.
(XHTV)