2nd Jiaoling Land Art Season boosts rural revitalization in Guangdong

The second Jiaoling Land Art Season has opened in Jiaoling county, Meizhou, injecting artistic vitality into rural revitalization and cultural tourism upgrading in Guangdong province.

Hosted by local authorities, the art season takes "Symbiosis of All Things" as its core theme. It brings together 43 artists and creative teams to present over 60 new artworks. Together with exhibits from the first session, more than 100 art installations have been placed across rural areas of Jiaoling, forming an open-air art system integrated with local landscapes and Hakka culture.

Building on the previous edition, this year's event launches themed creative units such as "Poetic Scenes of Dongpo · Sixteen Pleasures of Jiaoling", adding an architectural design sector. It expands artistic empowerment from landscape creation to rural spatial renewal and the improvement of living environments, practicing the concept of "art rooted in local land".

A pioneering "artist + designer + local operator" co-creation model has been adopted to nurture new rural business formats including art-themed spaces. The initiative helps villagers secure nearby employment and develop courtyard economies, effectively converting cultural popularity into sustainable economic benefits.

Curators noted that Jiaoling’s land art practice features profound localization and long-term rural empowerment. Unlike short-term rural cultural events, the season avoids rigid aesthetic transplantation. All creations are based on Jiaoling’s unique ecology, geographical features, and Hakka traditions, achieving genuine integration of nature, culture, and contemporary art.

Focusing on high-quality rural development under Guangdong's provincial revitalization project, Jiaoling is building a distinctive art-driven rural revitalization model, striving to transform cultural influence into industrial growth.

The opening ceremony included art donations and think-tank expert appointment ceremonies. Industry professionals in culture, urban planning, agriculture, and education were appointed to support the county’s high-quality development.

The opening highlight featured an immersive aerial art performance, combining sky installation and traditional guqin music. Breaking traditional stage limits, the show blended classical Chinese melody with natural rural scenery, delivering a unique aesthetic experience.

A thematic seminar on land art and rural revitalization was also held during the event, where experts shared innovative ideas on artistic rural transformation, cultural inheritance, and integrated tourism development, offering valuable experience for rural revitalization practices.

Known as a "World Longevity Hometown", Jiaoling borders Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces. Endowed with pristine ecology, selenium-rich soil, and profound Hakka culture, the county has become a model destination for ecological tourism and art-empowered rural development in South China.