Students from Jiangsu Vocational College of Business create a painting on a wall in Binhai village. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Students and faculty from Nantong's Jiangsu Vocational College of Business recently visited Binhai village in Rudong, a county-level city in Nantong, to participate in a wall-painting project.

More than 10 students and teachers collaborated extensively to produce an impressive 180 square meters of vibrant wall paintings. These artworks adorn the main road of the village and the exterior surfaces of the cultural center, transforming public spaces into open-air galleries. The wall paintings expertly fuse elements of the village's rich history as a fishing community, its deep-rooted marine culture, and contemporary artistic expressions. This creative endeavor provides a fresh, youthful perspective on rural vitalization, infusing the area with renewed vitality and energy.

Binhai is a quintessential fishing village known for its rich maritime culture and lively coastal economy. Located along the shoreline, it is bordered the north by a seawall river that provides natural protection and access for local fishing activities. Covering an area of over 140,000 mu (9,333.33 hectares), the region has extensive tidal flats that are a crucial resource for aquaculture. These flats are mainly used for clam and seaweed farming, with products sold widely across provinces, including Fujian and Zhejiang.

"Our creative team explored the village's culture and used our brushes to help preserve local traditions and memories," said Cheng Jiayu, a college teacher. "Our design team visited the village history museum and the homes of veteran fishermen to learn about its history. From these insights, we created four main themed paintings: green fishing, boats at dusk, undersea creatures, and tidal treasures.

A painting created by students from Jiangsu Vocational College of Business in Binhai village. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

On the walls along the village's main road, the young students used a gradient of blue and green as a base, incorporating silhouettes of fishing boats and crashing waves to depict fishermen casting nets and children playing in the surf. The team also cleverly incorporated modern 3D painting techniques, making viewers feel as if they were standing on a coast with the sound of waves.

"These paintings remind me of the challenging yet fascinating days of fishing with my father when I was young. It's a scene today's kids rarely get to witness," said a 65-year-old fisherman from the village, who often stops to admire the vivid paintings.

Ma Busong, Party secretary of Binhai village, praised these paintings, saying that using modern art to depict the simplicity and tranquility of our village, along with its rich cultural heritage, reflects the transformation of traditional fishing communities in this era.