FENGJIN, a rural town in the Jinshan District — located about two hours by bus outside of the beautiful Chinese city of Shanghai — is one which art and nature lovers would easily fall in love with.

Designated as a national historical and cultural township in 2006, Fengjin, enjoys a rich history and boasts a large number of historical sites, including 31 temples, one of which is the Ren Ji Taoist temple which was built in 502 AD.

But it was the town’s rich history in farmers’ paintings that attracted a group of nine journalists and media executives from Latin America and the Caribbean who were on a tour of the town last week, courtesy of China’s State Council Information Office.

Painters in Fengjin celebrate China in different styles, and were said to be different from those in the West as they always tell a story.

Jinshan was in 1988 named the “Birthplace of Modern Folk Art in China” by the Ministry of Culture, and on April 28, 2008, the “China Farmers’ Painting Village” was successfully inaugurated.

Fengjin’s villagers have for several years been expressing themselves on the canvas, creating pieces which express life in different forms, and the town is now said to be the most popular in China for its rich paintings.

Among pieces on display during last week’s visit were:

o One home in the city, One home in the town

o Golden age

o Chinese dragon meeting the dragon

o People dancing, greeting the expo

o The first bay in the morning sun viewing on the plateau

o Cutting wool

o No Name

o Golden land

o Pig-raising farmer

o Village of beans

o Prosperity

o Danger dancing

o Prosperity

o Folk art