So this is what happened last month: I got on a plane, flew all the way to Shanghai and took a train to Hua Quan Village, an art village - a place I have never heard of before. I had no idea what to expect, and sometimes it's better to expect nothing, therefore I was pretty much blown away from what was awaiting me...

 

This was a very unusual trip for me. It was more than just an art thing. If you have a creative bone in your body (or you're already an artist), you must visit Hua Quan Village!

 

 

About Hua Quan Village

 

Hua Quan Village is one of the largest art and cultural centers in the world. It's a retreat for people from all walks of life to create their own personalized journey of creative exploration. Visiting Hua Quan Village is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reignite the soul through art, history, and wellness.

 

The village was built to support local artists and preserve Chinese culture. Its purpose is to also provide refuge from the overwhelming digital age that we live in right now, and reconnect with our inner-most soul. It is meant to be a getaway into nature, a retreat to explore the wonders of Chinese art and culture. Hua Quan Village provides the opportunity for personal exploration through classes and seminars in art, culture, and wellness.

 

 

Where is Hua Quan Village?

 

I flew into Shanghai and from there I took a speed train (3,5 hours) to Yingtan. If you want to arrive the same day, make sure to land early. It takes quite some time (2 hours) to get from the airport to Hongqiao Station and the last fast train departs in the afternoon. If you arrive in the evening, you can still catch a train to Yingtan, but it will be slower trains that take between 6-9 hours.

 

Once I arrived I noticed that the village’s charm extends well beyond its location. Hua Quan Village is located in LongHu Mountain in the Jiangxi Province of China, across from Dragon Tiger Mountain, a World Heritage Site that is known for its breathtaking beauty and celebrates the birthplace of Taoism. 

 

 

Hua Quan Village spans 41 acres and includes over 100 galleries, studios, and shops as well as 4 unique museums, a 21-classroom art and cultural training center, a well-being center, and 3 hotels that each feature their own art galleries.

 

 

The Art of Hua Quan 

  

The collection of art in all of Hua Quan Village’s museums and galleries is priceless with many of the works coming from China’s most renowned artists. The Art Museum in Hua Quan features and celebrates contemporary Chinese artists, many of the pieces donated by Mr. Liu Jia Chang, while the Chinese Cultural Museum in an interactive collection of key discoveries that have shaped China’s 5000 year history.

 

 

There is also the Y. C. Wang Memorial Museum honoring famous entrepreneur and philanthropist as well as the Liu Jia Chang Records Museum which houses the musical creations of Mr. Liu Jia Chang who is considered the “Godfather of Music.” No matter what type of art and cultural experience you are looking for, there is something in Hua Quan for everyone.

 

 

The artist Lena Young (her art is pictured above and below) has helped curate a large portion of the art amongst the multiple museums, hotels, and exhibitions and has artwork and multiple murals displayed throughout the village, along with an entire gallery dedicated to work she painted here on-site, inspired by the beautiful surroundings. 

 

 

One of the most acclaimed aspects of Hua Quan village is the Miracle Project, an impressive art masterpiece that reminds visitors that miracles occur in our daily lives. The Miracle mural gallery is a collection of 100 murals painted on the walls surrounding the village.

 

These murals were painted by some of today’s most well-known artists from all over the world including Gabriel Abreu from the Dominican Republic, Kai Kaulukukui from Hawaii, Maki Ohkojima from Japan, Marina Zumi from Brazil, and Neil Wilkinson Cave from the United Kingdom.

 

 

Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

 

Hua Quan Village goes above and beyond to provide its visitors like a once-in-a-lifetime experience of art and culture. The village has partnered with local artists and musicians as well as the nation’s top instructions in martial arts, yoga, qigong, taichi and meditation. It’s the perfect place to embrace nature, nurture their creativity, explore personal growth, and reignite their passion from within.

 

 

Hua Quan Village’s Grand Opening

 

Hua Quan Village opened recently on the first weekend of November with over thirty international artists flying in to celebrate the grand opening. I was thrilled that I was invited to this fascinating event and experienced the place myself. The opening included a large variety of introductory art and culture classes as well as three International Art Forums, an International Culture Forum, and International Art Exhibits from museums based in Beijing, China.

 

 

If you’re looking for a way to reignite your creative soul, a visit to Hua Quan Village will certainly benefit you! For more information, follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on all the latest news and events.

 

 

Travel Tips for Asia

 

Are you ready to travel to and across Asia? Here are some quick booking links and resources that I use myself for travel planning. These websites will help you to get started with your Asia itinerary!

 

 

Cheap Flights to Asia

 

Many of these cities are major aviation hubs, making it very easy to combine multiple destinations within one trip! Skyscanner is my favorite search engine for finding cheap flights to all the major hubs in Asia, from anywhere in the world. I always start my flight search here! 

 

 

Transport within Asia

 

Bus, boat, and trains: 12Go is one of the most reliable websites in Asia when it comes to booking buses, ferries and railway. Get an instant seat confirmation and start your overland travel worry-free.

 

Taxis: Indrive is my go-to app to call a cab. No more hassles with taxi drivers who don't like to use the meter! 

 

 

Find a Place to stay in Asia

 

Hostels, hotels and resorts: Agoda is excellent if you're looking for hotels from budget to luxury! It's one of the largest hotel booking websites in the world. Plenty of options to book now and pay later, or even pay at the hotel. Risk-free booking, many with free cancellation. My other go to is Booking.com.

 

Homestays and Housesits: For a more authentic and local experience I recommend Homestay.com, a website where you can find places to stay with locals for such a great price. Personally, I'm obsessed with Trusted Housesitters, where you get to stay completely for free in exchange for pet care. Find out more in my article on How to Become a House Sitter and Never Pay for Accommodation.

 

 

Fun Tours and Activities in Asia

 

Get your Guide has plenty of fun activities in Asia, such as island hopping, hiking tours and city sightseeing trips. There is plenty of choices to keep yourself entertained!

 

Klook is similar than the one above, but offers additional options such as airport transfers, SIM cards, and food & dining experiences. It' a great way to meet other travelers while exploring a new place!

 

 

eSIM - Stay connected with Internet

 

Get an eSIM before you go and have Internet available from the second you arrive! I highly recommend Roamless or JetPac -  they're both highly ranked, inexpensive and reliable. 

 

 

Travel Insurance

 

Never go adventuring without travel insurance! I recommend Genki or SafetyWing - they're both very affordable and will cover you in an emergency. 

 

 

Do I need a Visa for all these Asian countries?

 

You can check on iVisa whether you need a visa and how long you are permitted to stay.

 

 

More Blog Posts from Asia

 

• Best Places to Visit in Asia: 8 Vibrant Cities You Can't Miss!
• How to Stay in Tokyo on a Budget - My Homestay Experience With a Japanese Family
• The Ultimate Guide To Phuket: Things To Do, Extraordinary Adventures + Places To Stay
• Fabulous Hotels with Panoramic Rooftop Bars in Bangkok
• 10 Best Places In India You Must Visit At Least Once In A Lifetime
• Philippines From The Air - Incredible Drone Footage Reveals Nothing But Paradise
• Best places to Visit in Singapore in 3 Days

 

Thank you for reading. If you like this article, please share!