福建南靖枳实花开引游客

HOHHOT, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The late afternoon light filtered through the birch trees, gilding their pale trunks. Nearby, Zhang Zifu paused, his brush hovering over a half-finished painting.

"We oil painters all adore Enhe," said Zhang. "There's nothing else like its unique folkways, its traditional Russian-style wooden houses, the way the grasslands meet the birch forests here."

Enhe, located in the northeastern corner of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the north of China, is China's only Russian ethnic township that has for years drawn travelers seeking its inspiring blend of Chinese-Russian culture, hearty cuisine and sweeping natural vistas. But lately, a new kind of visitor has emerged -- artists like Zhang, who are drawn not just by the views, but the chance to turn them into art.

"This environment fills us with romance, with imagination," said Ma Weihong, another painter in Zhang's group.

The art tour trend started to pick up pace in 2017, when Enhe converted its cultural center into an "oil painting sketch base," a hub for artists to work and teach. To date, it has hosted more than 4,000 students and faculty members from art academies across China. In 2022, the township trademarked the name "Enhe Oil Painting Town," cementing its reputation as a destination for artistic creativity.

"Centered on oil painting, we've expanded into sketching services, exhibitions, education and derivative products," says Qin Kai, deputy head of Enhe's township government, adding that the occupancy rates at local homestays have jumped accordingly.

This year, the township added another layer to its artistic infrastructure -- the Enhe oil painting sketch service station.

Tucked beside the oil painting sketch base, this station is part gallery, showcasing works by local and visiting artists, along with cultural and creative products, and part logistics hub -- offering meals, lodging, car rentals and even art supplies.

"Letting us handle these details saves artists time and energy, so they can focus on teaching students and creating," says Gao Chengyu, who manages the station.

For Zhang, who was visiting Enhe for the third time, the station has served as a source of great relief. Thanks to government-backed partnerships between the station and local families, Zhang managed to find a Russian-style homestay run by villagers at a subsidized rate -- a boon for artists and a windfall for residents.

"The station is wonderful," Zhang said, noting that he no longer has to scramble for lodging. More importantly, he's been able to immerse himself in village life, and has been warmly welcomed by locals.

Gao, notably, sees the station as more than a convenience. "We want to spread Enhe's name far and wide," he said. "To let more people know that this place exists."

Business is already picking up. On Aug. 15, Gao will host over 200 students and teachers from Communication University of China for a study trip. "They need 200 small stools, and I've been scrambling to prepare." Enditem

(Gao Yunqian, Ji Jingnan, Lyu Yilin, Ma Ruilin, Su Yushi, Wang Jingru and Wang Yan also contributed to the story.)