ZHIJIANG, March 6th (AMSP/CGTN) – – Have you ever attended a “Village Evening Gala”? If you visit Zhijiang Village, in Zhejiang Province, you might get the chance. Here people immerse themselves in the vibrant cultural atmosphere, igniting a new rural lifestyle.
The “Village Evening Gala” is being performed at the cultural hall in Xiaya Town, Jiande City, Zhejiang Province. Each of the twelve villages in the town have brought their own unique talents to the stage.
“Today, we are going to rehearse a new song that previously gained significant popularity on Zhejiang TV’s program ‘The Treasured Voice.’ If we perform this song well, it will surely attract a lot of attention to our ‘Village Evening Gala’,” ‘Song of the River’ Choir Conductor Liu Jing told the choir members.
Previously, Zhijiang Village had quite a bit of visibility in the photography community, but the fame belonged to the photographers.
“After taking photos, they tend to leave and are unlikely to return. Therefore, Zhijiang Village lacks a prominent identity beyond photography,” Wang Tao, Staff of Xiangzhilian Cultural Tourism Development (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.. told CGTN.
The company that ignited a spark in Zhijiang Village is called Xiangzhilian. Unlike other companies that focus on the economic development and industrial ventures, Xiangzhilian aims to leverage the concept of “linkage” to create opportunities.
“One aspect is the chain of connections. We aim to link some of the city’s high-quality resources to the countryside. The second aspect is the allure of the countryside, where locals come to the rural areas and fall in love with them,” said Chen Wenyao, General Manager of Xiangzhilian Cultural Tourism Development (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd..
To enhance the reputation of Zhijiang Village, the company introduced a music studio and invited musicians to inhabit the village.
The sounds of a choir then began to resonate from old houses. The team quickly grew to 40 members, and just five months later, they performed on CMG stage.
This appearance ignited the artistic enthusiasm of the villagers. Whether it be about launching a talk show or filming a documentary about the village, the ideas of those who resided there began to flourish.
“If I could document some of the events that have occurred among the villagers in our community,it would allow them to know that everything, including the songs we sing today, carries the heartfelt intentions of our villager,” Homestay Host Luo Yao said.
“Our ideas can be implemented, leading to increased income for everyone, which is highly rewarding,” Local Villager Chen Lifang pointed out.
From a choir to a “Village Evening Gala”, the performance standards of the villagers’ artistic programs are steadily rising.
In Zhijiang Village, the cultural needs of the villagers are explored and enriched, in order to create a more vibrant and diverse new rural life.
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