A view of Chengyang village in Ningbo's Yinzhou district. [Photo/WeChat account: nbfb0574]

An ancient village with a history of one thousand years, Chengyang village in Ningbo's Yinzhou district has taken on a completely new look after an art design campaign initiated last July by Cong Zhiqiang, an associate art professor at Renmin University of China in Beijing.

The group led by Cong has instilled a sense of cultural creativity among the local villagers, empowering them to renovate their surroundings using art.

Nearly 80 villagers with handicrafts skills involved in the campaign have brought huge changes to the ancient village.

The abandoned pigsties have been transformed into bars or teahouses, while the messy spaces used to pile firewood have been reshaped into workshops.

In addition, the ancient buildings, temples, bridges and trees have also been given a facelift.

The village has since emerged as a popular rural tourism destination.

A recent event shined the spotlight on the changes that Chengyang has undergone. Experts, scholars and well-known internet influencers were also invited to learn how the village has achieved rural vitalization via art.

"Chengyang fulfills all the fantasies of working in the city and living in the village," said Guo Xiaotao, a well-known travel blogger who is also a contributing writer for China Central Television.

A village's prosperity is dependent on the capability of its residents, Cong pointed out, adding that villages can be desirable places offering a lifestyle different from cities when villagers are confident, creative and have entrepreneurial spirits.

Chengyang village exemplifies the rural revitalization efforts made by Yinzhou district. The local authorities have pledged to sustain effort in promoting the role of art in rural revitalization.

A view of Chengyang village in Ningbo's Yinzhou district. [Photo/WeChat account: nbfb0574]