Homemade renaissance

Other activities include an art and painting program to enhance the artistic appeal of the village environment through the creation of local miniature landscapes and wall murals.

Additionally, the Florefields Steam Classroom has been established to recruit young volunteers from various regions to immerse themselves in rural schools, fostering artistic thinking and cultural literacy among rural children.

"Most of my students, for instance, are engaged in the creative cultural industries, and they can help with the planning of events to be held at the village," Xiang says.

To date, the upgraded facility has received more than 600 makers' visits, each lasting for more than two weeks.

Model for rural vitalization

Huang Binbin from Beijing still remembers her first time setting foot in the village in the summer of 2019.

"The rice was just emerging in the furrows, with its leaf sheaths barely reaching the ankles," recalls Huang who was then a student at Peking University.

She enjoyed taking a stroll through the rice paddies, and the feel of stepping on the soft soil imprinted with farmers' footprints made her nostalgic about her own rural hometown in East China's Fujian province.

After she became familiar with local villagers, Huang was instantly drawn to their unadorned simplicity and unworldliness, especially the innocence of children.

Huang has since been volunteering at the village to help out with organizing various events, receiving guests and offering training to local children.

After graduation last year, she has worked full time for the rural vitalization project.