Longmen: a Mountainous County Turns into China's Exemplary Artsy Place

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Subordinated to Guangdong province, Longmen, a historical county lying in the core zone of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, is known as "an oasis on the Tropic of Cancer". As a mountainous county with hills accounting for more than 73% of the total area, and the forest coverage rate of 76.6%, Longmen enjoys the names of "the most beautiful cultural and ecological tourism county" and "hometown of Chinese folk culture and art", and is one of the best areas in the Pearl River Delta in terms of ecological environment. All these culture evolutions have been significantly portrayed by the farmer painting.

Longmen's farmer paintings originated from the late Qing Dynasty. In 1988, Longmen was nominated as "the hometown of Chinese modern folk painting" by the nation. Since then, they have witnessed the development of Longmen.

The paintings drawn by farmers have become a part of the beautiful scenery that can be easily found in many cities of China. Farmer Paintings of Longmen show the positive attitude and kindness of its people. Most of them express the aesthetic taste of the grassroots in China, and reflect the concept of harmony between human and nature.

In this small county, there are more than 350 painters of farmer paintings, most of whom were born in the rural area, and during their leisure time they paint. Their paintings put together various folk art elements such as Chinese paper-cut, embroidery, and murals etc. Using folk customs and Chinese classical culture as inspiration, the paintings are full of countryside style and have the unique charm of art. Wandering in the village, you can feel the culture through the beautiful farmer paintings.  

"Farmer paintings make the countryside poetic and modern at the same time," said an official of Longmen County Government. Thanks to its superior environmental ecology, Longmen has kept using the potential of its folk culture and extending the connotation of farmer paintings.

In the Crosswaters Ecolodge and SPA in Nankun Mountain, building techniques that combine Hakka traditional cob wall with bamboo to foster the harmony of nature and culture can be seen. According to the manager, designed for "global localization", the resort has become a new landmark of Longmen ecological tourism, and has won the certificate of "Global Landscape Design Award".

There are many other similar ecological attractions in Longmen. As a significant member in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Longmen is strengthening its ecological advantages to be an example of growing the economy by utilizing eco-cultural resources.

Today, Longmen has gained reputation and recognition globally through its farmer paintings. They have become a way of communication that links Chinese traditional culture and the world together. These paintings have entered the United States, Canada, Japan, Sweden, Australia, Fiji and other countries. Many farmer painters were also invited to hold cultural exchange exhibitions overseas.

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SOURCE Longmen County Government