Cheng Xiao chun (left) gets great enjoyment from making rice-paper tools even though he doesn't make much money from it.[CHINA DAILY]

Jiao has followed the fan-drum player Chi Suying for around a year. The villager in Zanhuang, Hebei province, collects coal for 40 yuan ($6.57) a day and dances during her time off. She is illiterate.

"But she's very, very cultured," Jiao says. "The tunes she sings have background stories and morals, she knows the traditions of the ceremonies she attends. She understands the art not as an intangible heritage item, but something she loves and depends on."

Chi gladly arranges her house and life in shipshape order, walks tens of miles to dance with her friends and cares for their needs. Or what the ancient adage calls being "contented with what one has and happily pursuing spiritual needs. The things that make the woman laugh can be found in the documentary film A Beat of Happiness.

"It goes with the Chinese aesthetics you get from art," Jiao explains. "We believe in nature, temperance and a peaceful heart, which is really a philosophy of life."

It also helps that these country-folk have much more relaxed lifestyles than city-dwellers.

"As with every other art, you need time to polish what you have," Jiao says. "Inspirations mostly come when you're spacing out.

"The more spare time you have, the less greedy you are."

So here it is, hidden from those who try too hard, the secret to leading a happy, contented life—relies on a piece of folk art, gets the traditional training and has a lot of spare time.

"We've looked into these cases not because they're representative of all Chinese," Liang says. "But they present an alternative lifestyle for a really good life."