People walk by a sunflower field at a rural area in Frankfurt, Germany, on Aug. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Lu Yang)

A forum focusing on rural revitalization and the role of art in rural areas was held recently. Experts from all walks of life including city planners, architects and governmental officials gathered together in Shanghai to share their experiences. Li Jing, a professor of architecture and urban planning at Tongji University, noted during the forum that when considering rural planning, agriculture should always be a top priority. "And then we need art and cultural elements that are built upon local traditions, humanities, as well as nature. The value of the Chinese countryside should be explored. Exploring the balance between traditional and modern elements is a major topic," Li said.

The Paper



During the past 20 years of development, Chinese web novels have completed a major transformation from a niche culture enjoyed by a few to a popular means of entertainment appreciated by the masses. Their reach has extended beyond literature, reaching into the TV industry through adaptations. Web novels have become a major IP source for China's cultural industry. Besides popular adaptations such as the TV series Empresses in the Palace and Nirvana in Fire, many web novels have been adapted into games and animated films. For the next step, the complete IP product line needs to be improved to make our own China IP universe based on our traditional culture.

Huanqiu.com



Someone has once said to me that one of my best qualities is patience. I think as a young novelist who just started, patience and persistence are more important than talent. However, my patience has decreased greatly with age, especially now that I am in my 40s. The second is the extensive knowledge one should be equipped with. Otherwise it would be hard to be accepted by readers. I once wrote a suspense novel a long time ago but it didn't turn out well. Readers told me that they guessed the ending after reading the first several chapters and that hit me a lot.

Zhao Zhiming, novelist