When Art Meets the City: Creative Vitality in the Greater Bay Area Field Trip

Produced by:

DIAO Yingxuan, Master of Cities and Governance programme (Environmental and Sustainability) (AY2025/26 intake)

GU Shanyao, Master of Cities and Governance programme (Environmental and Sustainability) (AY2025/26 intake)

SU Zhihua, Master of Cities and Governance programme (AY2025/26 intake)

ZHU Xiaoyu, Master of Cities and Governance programme (Environmental and Sustainability) (AY2025/26 intake)

During this field trip to the Greater Bay Area, what impressed us most was visiting Guanlan Print Village and Dafen Oil Painting Village. At Guanlan Print Village, we observed up close part of the printmaking process for the first time, and gained a more intuitive understanding of the meticulous craftsmanship and profound cultural heritage behind traditional art. The village preserves a strong historical and humanistic atmosphere — its tranquil environment, distinctive architecture, and spaces seamlessly integrated with artistic creation all made us feel that traditional culture remains full of vitality in the contemporary era. Through this visit, we not only saw the artworks themselves, but also deeply understood how they continue to be passed down and developed through heritage.
 

In contrast, Dafen Oil Painting Village presents a more open and vibrant artistic ecosystem. Along the streets, there are numerous studios, exhibition halls, and art shops, filling the entire space with a strong sense of creativity and commercial energy. We clearly felt that artistic creation is no longer limited to personal expression, but is closely connected with community culture, market demand, and urban industries. Dafen Oil Painting Village showed us that culture and art can become important forces driving local development and urban renewal.
 

This visit made us deeply realize that a city is not only a carrier of economic and infrastructure development but also bears cultural memory and creative vitality. Through on-site observation, we have come to better understand that urban governance is not only about planning and policies, but also about how to protect cultural characteristics, support creative industries, and enhance a city's appeal and vitality.