After resigning a well-paid job in Beijing, Mei Jing, a graduate of the Architecture School of Tsinghua University, went back to her hometown, Yi county in North China's Hebei province, to open an academy institute.
The Tingsong Academy Institute is in Wudaohe village, near the Western Qing Tombs.
According to Mei, Tingsong is designed to spread the cultural heritage of her hometown, and connect local residents with the outside world.
It was established to be multifunctional and contains a public library and drawing studio, and provides public lectures about traditional culture, rural construction and education issues.
It also offers designed cultural products, which are closely related to the Western Qing Tombs, a famous cultural heritage in Mei's hometown.
Mei helped her father with restoration work of Western Qing Tombs when she was young. She often goes sketching at the Western Qing Tombs, seeking inspiration for cultural products design work.
Although facing challenges like funding issues, a lack of talent in the area and communication failure with neighboring businesses, Mei still insists on pursuing her dream of spreading traditional culture.
