Teachers, students and guests from both sides of the Taiwan Strait visit the exhibition together. [Photo/China Taiwan]

More than 1,000 artworks created by young artists from universities on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are on display in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, offering a glimpse into their artistic exploration of rural China and their exchanges through art.

The exhibition showcasing the achievements of the 2025 Cross-Strait Youth Dushan Art Camp, together with the launch of the 2026 camp, opened on Aug 3 at the Wu Mingshan Art Museum in Yuhang district, Hangzhou. The exhibition runs through Aug 10.

The works were created during an art residency in Dushan village, Suichang county, Lishui, Zhejiang, a well-preserved traditional village known for its ancestral hall, memorial archways and ancient wells.

The exhibition features paintings, calligraphy, photography, installations, documentaries, dance, sound art, metal sculpture, architectural survey, landscape design and field observation reports. In doing so, it presents six themes that explore the village's cultural heritage, ecology and contemporary life.

The program traces its root to 2022, when the China Academy of Art began conducting teaching and fieldwork in Dushan and launched an exhibition showcasing students' works. It later developed into the Cross-Strait Youth Dushan Art Camp, which has become a platform for artistic and cultural exchange.

Over the past five years, the number of participants has risen from 35 to over 80, while the number of participating universities has increased from six to 14 and the range of disciplines has jumped from nine to 19.

For participants, the camp not only provided a platform for artistic creation but also contributed to in-depth exchanges between young people from Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. One young artist from Taiwan noted that through the program, he gained a deeper understanding of rural life on the mainland and helped foster closer connections with fellow artists.

The program has also contributed to the village's cultural development. Part of a former village primary school has been renovated into a Cross-Strait Youth Cultural and Art Exchange Center, providing a permanent public space to display the program's achievements and support future exchanges.

Following the exhibition, more than 80 teachers and students from both sides of the Strait will travel to Dushan for an eight-day residency.

On Aug 7, they will join local Wuju Opera and Kunqu Opera performers in a public performance. Academic forums will also examine how artistic practice can contribute to rural vitalization and the preservation of traditional villages.

Visitors study the art works. [Photo/China Taiwan]