A well-maintained asphalt road leads into a village, where a colorful display of “cabbages,” “radishes,” “pumpkins,” and a pile of stones create a “Harvest Wall” to greet every visitor. Just a few steps forward, and the artistic charm of “Nanshan Beautiful Village” comes into view.
This is Nanshan Village, a new dual-purpose rural community being developed in Beijing’s Pinggu District. Just a few years ago, this area struggled economically, but it has now transformed into a popular leisure destination, attracting 30,000 tourists this year alone.
Located in the eastern part of Pinggu District’s Nandulehe Town, Nanshan Village is a typical northern traditional village. Like many rural communities, it has seen a significant outflow of young people seeking work in cities, leaving behind a number of vacant houses and idle resources. The challenge has been to turn these “sleeping assets” into sources of income.
According to Jia Jingyu, the head of the organizing department in Nandulehe Town, since 2023, efforts have been made to revitalize these idle assets by attracting social capital and enhancing public services. Nanshan Village has successfully hosted its inaugural Nanshan Art Season and, through leasing and renovation, has updated 226 private homes and three parcels of village-owned land. Plans include the construction of 70 high-quality guesthouses and 10 public service facilities, all expected to be completed by the end of this year, providing a total of 350 rooms.
Currently, over 30 guesthouses are open for business, achieving an impressive occupancy rate of 86% during the recent National Day holiday. These guesthouses, each featuring a unique artistic style—including traditional blue brick and grey tile, classic courtyard houses from old Beijing, as well as European and Japanese designs—cater to the diverse tastes of visitors.
Beyond accommodations, the village has also seen the establishment of cafés, restaurants, a bookstore, a farmer’s market, and Warrior Valley—all designed to enhance the visitor experience.
Notably, art from students and faculty of Tsinghua University’s Academy of Fine Arts can be found throughout the village. Following a research visit in late 2023, Ma Sai, the Academy’s party secretary and dean, discussed with Pinggu District officials how to deepen cooperation, tapping into the intrinsic value of rural areas in the capital to drive advancements in rural revitalization and agricultural modernization. In February 2024, an intention to collaborate was established between Tsinghua University’s Academy of Fine Arts and Pinggu District to promote rural development through art and culture.
“I always remind myself that I am a ‘villager’ and not just a ‘city dweller’ or ‘artist,'” shared a young faculty member from Tsinghua University who has taken up the role of village secretary in Nanshan Village since the end of 2023. He is focused on leveraging art to shape the cultural characteristics of this new rural community and drive the development of surrounding industries.
Meng Chao, another local, noted that Nanshan Village is a treasure trove of creative inspiration. Over the past spring and summer, around 300 students from eight art universities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region engaged in local creative projects. This led to the July opening of the “Bountiful Fields—2024 Beijing Nanshan Art Season,” showcasing over 30 art pieces that beautifully intertwine with the village’s natural surroundings and add new cultural landmarks.
Today, Nanshan Village stands as a blend of rural charm and contemporary lifestyle, buzzing with youthful energy. Some residents have returned to start new ventures, while others, like Xia Qiying, have come back after living away for over a decade. She remarked on the dramatic improvements in her hometown’s environment, infrastructure, and transportation, stating, “It’s bustling here now, with visitors coming in waves!”
So far this year, Nanshan Village has welcomed 30,000 tourists. Li Zitong, the deputy mayor of Pinggu District, emphasized the evolution of Nanshan Village into a new model of rural tourism, combining guesthouses, family activities, camping, cafés, dining, arts, and educational experiences, thereby driving sustainable rural revitalization.
