"Yunnan Sojourn" is becoming an upgraded version of Yunnan tourism. With this new change, an increasing number of travelers find Kunming to be a pleasant place to live.

Kunming's urban landscapes and countryside are beautiful and picturesque, and its historical culture, local customs, climate, and way of life are cherished by many people. In pursuing a higher degree of leisure, travelers fall in love with Kunming and choose to reside there.

Below are some stories of travelers who settled in Kunming...

"Fuci Mountain House." Photo by Jiang Feng

"Kunming is still quite a comfortable place." Watching the morning sunbathing in Damoyu Village, the spring breeze is gentle and warm, and the fields are filled with faint mist. Li Ruifang, who lives in Damoyu Village, Yuhua Committee of Tuanjie Township, could not help but express her admiration for the tranquil beauty of this place.

Returning to "drifting north"

Eight years ago, Li Ruifang and her husband, Guo Peng, rented a long-abandoned small farmhouse in Damoyu Village, not far from downtown Kunming. Over the course of more than half a year, they transformed this space into an art paradise, and they named it "Fuci Mountain House."

"Fuci" is the nickname of the couple's daughter. Li Ruifang mentioned that their daughter was still very young when they decided to move to Damoyu Village. They did not want her to spend weekends in shopping malls. Instead, they wished for her to have more contact with nature. Naming the house after her was also a way to extend their love.

"At that time, we were still young and always wanted to go out and explore the world. In 2008, we quit our jobs, moved to Beijing, and went to Nanjing and Suzhou." Li Ruifang recalled, "In 2017, when the smog was the worst, I saw that half of my friends' social media were posts about the smog, and the other half were sunny blue skies, so I suddenly had the idea of returning to Kunming."

Damoyu Village is a Yi ethnic village, and in the Yi language, "Moyu" means "dense forest." Li Ruifang explained that the locals interpreted "Moyu" as a "bamboo forest." She and her husband cherish tranquility. They found that Damoyu Village is down-to-earth, and the air is fresh. Also, the villagers are simple and easy to get along with, and the village is very close to their urban residence, which is very convenient. Therefore, they decided to settle in this village for a while. "whenever we have time, we will come here for a few days. Being together as a family is happy and warm. Walking in nature, we can also feel the uplifting energy of life, which is natural and relaxing."

Creating the "Fuci Mountain House"

Like other old houses in Damoyu Village, the farmhouse rented by Li Ruifang's family was originally made of adobe walls and wooden doors and windows. They hired someone to renovate, but the main structure of the old house has been retained, while only being repaired and reinforced. The studio was built in the pigsty's location in front of the landlord's house. The exterior wall was painted white, and the wooden stairs and wooden floors were kept inside. Some walls still used adobe walls, but they were cut and polished simply. The wall facing the courtyard was made of one-way glass, allowing those inside to see out but not vice versa. This not only expands the indoor vision but also gives a panoramic view of the yard with flowers and plants.

Facade of "Fuci Mountain House" studio. Photo provided

The wooden doors and windows of the old house were repainted with red lacquer. The roof appears to be covered with tiles at first glance, but Li Ruifang explained that it was actually restored to look original using similar materials, making it sturdier and more waterproof. A large water tank was placed in the small courtyard, and a utility room and bathroom were built on the roadside, enhancing the functionality of the space while maintaining its artistic charm.

Li Ruifang's family lived on the second floor of the old house, and the downstairs was converted into a kitchen, dining room, and reception room. The reception room and the studio are connected by a wall and a door. Guo Peng usually makes Guqin in the studio.

The reception room of 'Fuci Mountain House'. Photo by Jiang Feng

Guo Peng's introduction on his website is as an artist, piano player, and farmer. In 2001, he began to study the restoration and production of Guqin and has participated in the restoration of more than 30 beds of ancient Guqin in the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. The documentary about Guqin produced by the Shanghai Museum was shown in the museum's special exhibition "Qianwen Wanhua (Thousand Motifs and Myriad Splendors)."

In the center of the first floor of the studio, there is a large table for Guo Peng to Zhuoqin (The Traditional Craft of Making Guqins). On the side wall, there are piles of wood used for Zhuoqin, and on the front wall, there are finished and semi-finished Guqin pieces hanging. On the second floor of the studio, Guo Peng's office desk and computer are placed above the stairs, with a work desk in the center. The southeast wall is decorated with art paintings, and the northwest wall is made into a bookcase, filled with various art books. On the northeast side of the wall, there is an iron staircase leading to the roof on the left, and on the right side is a seat for Guo Peng to test the sound and play the Guqin. The southeast wall of the seat is covered with glass to let morning sunshine in, enveloping the seat in sunlight.

Guo Peng's seat for testing the sound and playing the Guqin. Photo by Jiang Feng

This design was conceived by Guo Peng and aimed at creating an acoustic field and resonance, allowing the performers below to be enveloped in sound. Li Ruifang said, "This allows Guo to form the sound of heaven and earth while playing the Guqin below."

The roof of the studio has been rebuilt into a flat top, surrounded by walls of about one meter. Standing on the roof, one can overlook the distant mountains and nearby fields, as well as the blue sky and white clouds.

A view of the "Fuci Mountain House" studio. Photo by Jiang Feng

"The renovation of the house was done by a designer who made repeated adjustments based on our preferences. It has a complete range of functions and meets our needs," said Li Ruifang. During the renovation period, the landlord came to see it multiple times, and after the renovation, the landlord also liked it very much. "He’s a teacher in Tuanjie Township, a very kind person, and we get along well with him."

Find peace of mind

After the renovation of the courtyard in Damoyu Village, Guo Peng devoted himself to contemporary art and the production and restoration of Guqin. Li Ruifang said that the Guqin made by Guo Peng has a better sound quality, as it has both accessible nature and a quiet environment.

Guo Peng is making Zhuoqin in the studio. Photo provided

Li Ruifang lives in the city with her daughter, who is about to enter middle school. She returns to Damoyu village on weekends or holidays. She continued to pursue her favorite handicrafts and illustrations, and also established her own handmade brand "Fuci Collection". Some of her recently created paintings have also reached new heights, with several pieces being collected by art enthusiasts.

She said, "The countryside has its joys, and the city also offers a lifestyle that suits us.. Damoyu village is our transition from urban to natural life. Here, children can hear the chirping of birds and insects, the changing seasons, and the growth of all living things. For me, it’s a place to calm my mind, focus on myself, and draw inspiration from everything around me. When I occasionally meet an elderly lady in her eighties in the village singing Yi songs, I can get a different feeling from the city, both physically and mentally relaxed."

Some illustrations were drawn by Li Ruifang. Photo provided

Li Ruifang's family is the third group of new villagers in Damoyu Village, having signed a fifteen-year lease with the landlord. Nowadays, more and more villagers like them have gathered in Damoyu, reportedly exceeding sixty 60 households. With funds, technology, and talent, the new villagers opened guesthouses, ran restaurants, and established art studios in the village. Their presence has revitalized the once-hollowed old village, boosting its popularity, energy, and income, and contributing to rural revitalization.

In the research activities, Li Ruifang (second from right) is with her friends and children. Photo provided

"The old villagers welcomed us and we all get along very well. When having the traditional pig-slaughtering feast, everyone will get together. " Li Ruifang said that in the rainy season, they did not lose, but gained a lot, and even found many like-minded friends, which which feels heartwarming.

Reporter's Notes

"Fuci Mountain House" is not just a traquil retreat but also a creative space. The couple, Guo Peng and Li Ruifang, boldly navigate between urban and rural life. While pursuing nature and authenticity, they have given their child a childhood filled with villages and fields, while also finding inspiration and progress in their personal artistic en·deavors. This reflects their pursuit of and yearning for a beautiful life, embodying the aspirations of contemporary people.

Perhaps this is the charm of Kunming sojourn, and the allure of its countryside.

Click here to view the Chinese report

(Editors: May, Carl, Ines)