Farmer-painters revitalize village life, rural tourism in E China's Jiangxi

Photo shows a painting by farmer-painter Wang Zhongneng in Wan'an county, Ji'an city, east China's Jiangxi Province. (Photo/Kang Nianying)

Tianbei village, located in Gaobei town of Wan'an county in Ji'an city, east China's Jiangxi Province, was once held back by its remote location and the absence of a distinctive local industry.

In the past, many villagers struggled to find stable sources of income. During the agricultural off-season, they developed skills in painting and varnishing to make a living, taking on jobs such as painting houses and decorating furniture.

Over time, those practical skills found a more creative outlet: farmer painting.

"Farmer paintings typically take their cues from everyday rural life — farming traditions, local customs and the surrounding landscape," said Kang Nianying, director of the Cultural Center in Wan'an county.

In 2013, Wan'an adopted a locally tailored development strategy built on government guidance, market-led operations, and the integration of culture and tourism. Tianbei village was transformed into a hub for the preservation and display of farmers' paintings, breathing new life into this grassroots art form.

To bring together talented painters, the county rolled out support policies, building more than 10 studios and attracting artists from across the region to settle in the village.

Xiao Xiaoyin, a farmer-painter, creates a painting. (People's Daily/Yang Yanfei)

Over the years, nine farmer-painters have put down roots in Tianbei, farming by day and painting by night. They draw on the rhythms of daily life, such as fishing songs, rice planting in the fields, weddings and other celebrations. Their works offer a vivid glimpse into rural life.

What began in the fields is now reaching a much wider audience. Wan'an has hosted national-level farmers' painting exhibitions for several consecutive years and taken these works overseas, presenting them as a distinctive cultural calling card.

Photo shows the scenery in Tianbei village, located in Gaobei town of Wan'an county in Ji'an city, east China's Jiangxi Province. (Photo/Lin Haibin)

Today, Tianbei village has developed into a top-tier national tourist destination combining artistic creation, exhibitions, study tours, wellness and tourism, and has become a popular destination for school art trips.

In 2025, the village welcomed more than 20,000 study-tour visits. Beyond students, a growing number of tourists are drawn by the paintings. Their rising popularity has fueled related businesses, including creative cultural products and B&Bs, enabling villagers to earn more without leaving home.