Poetic Laoshan: Stonemason Village Becomes Artist Village? This Is Truly a 'Poetic and Picturesque' Life

Tucked deep in the Laoshan area of Qingdao, Dashi Village is a quintessential 'stonemasons' village' that even played a role in transporting and carving the stone for the Monument to the People's Heroes.

A stonemason village? Now an artists' village! With beautiful scenery and simple, honest folk, the villagers have set aside their hammers and hoes to pick up paintbrushes—all to protect Laoshan's pristine landscapes. They are painting a different path to rural revitalization and creating a uniquely poetic way of life.

'Our village is nestled between mountains and water, with stunning natural scenery. Not only is it a great place for villagers to live, but it also attracts many painters and artists who come here to sketch and create. The Qingdao Contemporary Watercolor Research Institute has also set up here,' says Duan Cun'en, the village Party secretary, beaming with pride as he talks about his community amid the push for beautiful countryside development. After visiting and studying Dafen Oil Painting Village in Shenzhen, he realized Dashi could try a similar 'poetic and picturesque' path to rural revitalization, and his idea gained enthusiastic support from Liang Kai, a Qingdao-born painter.

Liang Kai, once a university teacher and a graduate of Tsinghua University's Academy of Arts & Design, moved to the U.S. in 1997 to study the art market and work on cross-cultural creative projects. Having visited Dashi Village years before, when he returned to China looking for a peaceful place, he settled here without hesitation. This is now his sixth year.

Putting down hoes and picking up brushes—the stone village has become an artists' village. 'I spent my life quarrying stone and farming. I never imagined that in my old age, these weathered hands could paint!' exclaims Duan Jingke. At 69, he is the oldest student. Hands calloused from decades of stonemasonry and farmwork now head out early each morning to the studio to practice. Under Liang's easy-to-understand teaching, everyone has fallen in love with painting.

'Most of the students are farmers who have worked the land all their lives, with virtually no painting experience. But their enthusiasm is tremendous. I believe we can nurture outstanding farmer-watercolorists of our own.' Teaching painting from scratch is no easy task. Many villagers, when they first held a brush, could barely control the pressure—some nearly snapped their brushes in half. Liang started with simple flowers and plants, progressing from a single blossom, to a vase of flowers, to a whole garden...

The students are diligent and hardworking, often painting to the point of skipping meals and sleep. They treat every step and detail with rigorous care, and their skills improve day by day.

Everyone becomes a 'Magic Brush Ma Liang,' painting their own path to happiness. 'From tentative, wobbly sketch lines to fluid, confident strokes and natural, smooth coloring...' Liang is full of praise. After the two-month free training period, many students can produce high-quality works. They can now earn money from their skills, and some elderly villagers have even learned to share their paintings online. It's an enviable, joyful life.

'Our students are so dedicated. True to their stonemason heritage, the spirit of craftsmanship passes down through generations,' says instructor Xu Wenxia, who married into the Dashi community. Hearing about the farmer-painter training class, she was moved by the vision and courage, and promptly applied to join. Many young people who had left to find work elsewhere are now returning to take part in the village's new ventures.

'The Monument to the People's Heroes bears the imprint of Dashi's stonemasons. I believe we can also use our brushes to paint a blueprint for our village, and our paintings will sell across the country!' It's not just the beautiful natural scenery—the students are finding their groove, talent is gathering, and outside attention is growing. Dashi Village will keep building itself into a watercolor art town, hosting watercolor workshops and study tours, and charting a rural revitalization path where art drives leisure industries.

Isn't this the 'poetic and picturesque' life you've been seeking?