However, the life in the countryside is not as simple as one might imagine. With more and more artists flooding into this Song Zhuang, the house prices here are increasing year by year. For most of the artists, their life's burdens are heavy; some of the painters have had to move away.

Nevertheless, innumerable young painters view Song Zhuang as a holy land. It seems that living at Song Zhuang denotes a special status. Moreover, success by some of the "pioneers" has attracted more "successors."

As Beijing's biggest painters community, Song Zhuang has built several huge art centers, and eventually some important art museums and corridor will also enter the village.

 Painters' Special Lives

Though painters come from different places and have different backgrounds, when they arrive at Song Zhuang, they all become "freelance artists."

Artists like to call themselves "village people." They live in farmhouses and share sunlight, land, and air with common farmers. They love old furniture, and raise crude and atrocious dogs. When they scold dogs, their sounds are often mixed with the farmer-like tone, sly and proud.

Different from other citizens, Song Zhuang artists like dropping by for a visit, chatting, and playing cards. They are extremely satisfied with the unrestrained village life.

Most of the artists have a free life without rules. They sleep at daytime and work at night. They seldom read newspaper, listen to the music, or watch television. Computer is a rare gadget for them; they disdain to learn how to use it. What they are really interested in is talking about gossip and spreading rumors in their free time.

Different people come to Song Zhuang with different dreams. Some want to make a pile of money, some want to get fame, and some just long for the tranquil atmosphere in the countryside.

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