ZHENGZHOU — A photo of a group of elderly villagers beaming with joy in front of the Tian'anmen Rostrum, their faces radiating with a warm sense of excitement, recently went viral online.

A closer look reveals a heartwarming scene: the "Rostrum" is actually a meticulously painted mural in Wuying village, Shangqiu city, Central China's Henan province. The artwork was created to fulfill the lifelong dreams of local seniors who had never visited the iconic site in China's capital.

The mural's completion marked a festive day for the village. Elderly residents dressed in their finest attire as if celebrating a major holiday, with some overcome by emotion and shedding tears of joy.

"With this paintbrush, I would like to take my fellow villagers to places they haven't been to," says 39-year-old Wu Chengyan.

Wu inherited his love of painting from his father, but it was in 2023 that inspiration really struck, and he painted a landscape for his wife's grandfather in Zhaolou village. That moment gave Wu an idea: why not create art for the seniors in his hometown?

At the beginning of 2025, inspired by the popularity of the animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2, he created over 10 murals based on the movie, which earned the nickname "Ne Zha Village".

These murals quickly became tourist attractions, drawing visitors from far and wide. Villagers soon set up a market, giving the village's economy a big boost.

On Dec 18, Wu began his masterpiece on an 18-meter-wide, eight-meter-tall white wall, where villagers often hang out. He worked hard over five days, putting in eight hours each day to bring the majestic Tian'anmen Rostrum to life.

"My hand trembled while painting the national emblem," Wu recalls. "It is the symbol of our country."

He did thorough research to confirm every detail. When the last stroke was put on, elderly onlookers erupted in applause.

The murals serve as a powerful magnet for tourists, drawing crowds from across the province and even farther afield. Online videos depicted long queues eagerly waiting to take photos with the artwork. In a notable example, a man set out from home before dawn, driving an electric tricycle for 20 kilometers to bring his 97-year-old mother to see the mural.

During the three-day New Year holiday, the village witnessed an impressive influx of 50,000 to 60,000 visitors per day. To help accommodate everyone, over 400 new stalls were set up at peak times, offering snacks, toys and local specialties.

Feng Junhong, who traveled from East China's Shandong province, set up a stall selling steamed buns. "We came here because the village has become a hot spot for tourism," she says, adding that her daily earnings could reach up to 600 yuan ($86).

Zhang Xiling, 46, was selling cold rice noodles outside the village but decided to move her business back to her doorstep. She's now earning between 200 and 500 yuan per day.

Boosted by the tourism boom, Wuying village has upgraded its roads. According to Wu Chengxin, the village's Party chief, plans include connecting with several other scenic spots and developing strawberry and vegetable bases to sustain economic growth.

In the first half of 2025, China's countryside received 24.88 million tourists and generated 9.24 billion yuan ($1.33 billion) in tourism revenue, marking increases of 7.9 and 8.6 percent, respectively, year-on-year.

Last October, the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee concluded its fourth plenary session, during which participants deliberated and adopted the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the CPC for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development.

This document emphasizes the need to accelerate agricultural and rural modernization and take solid steps to advance all-around rural vitalization.

So far, Wu Chengyan has completed more than 40 murals, featuring iconic landmarks such as the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall, as well as a portrait of Chinese scientist Yuan Longping, who is known as the "father of hybrid rice", and characters from the video game Black Myth: Wukong, transforming Wuying into an open-air art gallery.

Several young residents in the village have expressed their wishes to learn painting from Wu. "I plan to establish a studio and collaborate with more people to cover every blank wall with murals," he says.

Xinhua