Members of the "Northern Life Qingfeng Art" team take a group photo in front of the stone houses in Qingfeng Village.

Qingfeng Village's stone houses framed against the sea

Qingfeng Village, nestled at the northern end of Pingtan, Fujian, is a national traditional village with profound fishing heritage. It sits at a strategically important location connecting the Taiwan Straits and faces a broader world, while also being part of Pingtan's booming international tourism island and a hub for youth entrepreneurship.

Dancing by the sea

Playing musical instruments in the forest

Around 2025, the Xinzhiqing Art Society, a team with years of experience in revitalizing rural villages through art in Sanming's mountainous areas of Fujian, teamed up with Qingfeng Village to launch the "Northern Life Qingfeng Art" initiative. The project aims to build an art community, using art as a link to revitalize the ancient village and attract newcomers to settle in the village.

Playing the piano facing the sea

The initiative unfolds around four core keywords: "Lan" (Blue), "Rong" (Integration), "Sheng" (Life/Growth), and "Jian" (Seeing). The "Lan" Art Troupe, composed of new and old villagers, college students and local artists, brings fishing and net-weaving scenes to the stage. The "Rong" Art Gallery integrates diverse art forms through exhibitions and residency programs. The "Sheng" Drama Workshop lets theater enter old houses, becoming a daily bridge between local and incoming youth. The "Jian" Video Project encourages young people to capture daily lives through their lens and share them via short films and documentaries.

"Lan, Rong, Sheng, Jian are not just four themes, but a process and an action," said Zhou Qing, the project founder. "Ultimately, we want to truly 'see' this place, which in turn awakens the vitality buried within it."

Enjoying the sea breeze, soaking up the sun, and playing music by the sea

Adopting a "companionship" residency model, the team lives in the village year-round, building trust and shared history with the community. They have renovated 14 old stone houses to develop theaters, art galleries and other spaces. Drawing on their past experience, they aim to create a holistic ecosystem— a nurturing ground where a new generation can put down roots, create art, and build sustainable futures. Their goal is to turn Qingfeng Village into a "youth incubator" that attracts college graduates to live and start businesses, while promoting the integration of new and old villagers and helping local culture "sail overseas."