The village of Fenghuang in Jiaozhou's Yanghe town came alive with music and laughter on Oct 9, when a national village song competition kicked off. The revitalized village broke free from traditional theater boundaries, bringing performances into streets and courtyards.

At seven immersive performance spots scattered across the village, visitors encountered Jiaozhou Yangko, Maoqiang opera, Shandong clapper ballads, and local village songs. A bustling market featured specialty goods from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states alongside Jiaozhou's intangible cultural heritage crafts, including paper-cutting and lacquerware.

The event also saw international students perform alongside local artists, blending cultures through song. Village songs drawn from everyday rural life — farming, market days, and hometown pride — resonated deeply with audiences.

By weaving heritage, rural creativity, and community participation together, the event showcased how culture can drive rural vitalization and bring new vitality to the countryside.

Jiaozhou Yangko dancers perform in a transformed courtyard during the national village songs event. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Local traditional crafts and SCO goods draw visitors at a local market. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

International students join local performers, bridging cultures through music in rural Qingdao. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]