Rural China turns its hand to artistic field

Xing Weibin likes nothing more than to have breakfast in nature. A cup of coffee and a good book in the early morning sunshine at his Saxiu art space is Xing's idea of bliss.

Rural China is attracting an increasing number of urbanites like Xing, luring them away from the hustle and bustle of the city for the quiet life in the countryside.

Xing, a lifelong lover of the countryside, visited the village of Shishe in Tonglu county, Zhejiang in 2015. The 56-square-kilometer village has around 900 residents and sits among a serene natural environment.

"It is quiet but not deserted, it is not overdeveloped and the architecture and population size is perfect to create that idyllic model village people picture in their minds," said Xing.