Rural landscape gets 'face-lift'

Many designers use art to provide new looks in villages by plastering modern images on empty walls or by renovating the architecture. Cong found a way to beautify Gejia by giving full play to local residents' skills and guiding them to make artworks for the decoration of public spaces by themselves.

People who are good at needlework were encouraged to make fabric products such as cloth dolls and those adept at using bamboo or wood were told to design artistic decorations in their courtyards.

Today, when walking through the alleys in the village, almost all decorations at the corners, on walls and in public spaces are made by the residents, including flower pots, benches, lamps and pavilions. Local people are now a primary force in Gejia's environmental improvement.

Ye Xianrong, a 66-year-old resident, opened an art gallery by collecting and showcasing time-honored objects and artworks made by her family members and neighbors.