Farmers grow 5,000-sqm paddy painting in Shanghai

The rice field work from folk artist Lu Yongzhong, titled "Dragon's Dream", was initiated in April. Farmers began to grow the paddy in late April, and the painting gradually took form in the last five months.

Jinshan District, in Shanghai's coastal south end, is famous for its Jinshan farmer paintings; a tradition renowned for its bright depictions of rural life. A farmer artist has taken the tradition to a whole new level by creating a large painting on a paddy field.

With the Earth as canvas, farmers' hoes as a brush and rice of different colors, folk artist Lu Yongzhong has completed the largest paddy field painting in China. The project covers an area of over 5,000-square-meters.

"It's fresh and full of life. You can see the color of rice, color of earth. It really shows the power of nature," Lu said.

The rice field work, titled "Dragon's Dream," was initiated in April. Farmers began to grow the paddy in late April, and the painting gradually took form in the last five months.

Now, the complete picture is there for people to see.

"Seeing it from a height, I can see a huge dragon-dance painting. It is amazing and beautiful," said a tourist.

Farmer painters in Jinshan District are famous for colorful scenes of country life. With simple subjects rendered in bold colors, these beautiful works of art have gained the name of "Jinshan farmer painting". It has been listed as Shanghai's intangible cultural heritage.

The rice field work is a new form of the art tradition.

"Jinshan peasant painting is an intangible cultural heritage. But with a project like this, it gains new life, instead of just a name on a list. The art is introduced to a wider audience," said Li Jiping, president of Jinshan Farmer Painting Academy.

Locals will reap the paddy field at the end of October and share the colorful harvest.