Chongqing - Every weekend, an unconventional classroom comes to life in the lush, plant-covered courtyard of Ren Heyong's house. Ren, aged 67, transforms this space into a vibrant setting for free calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting classes, welcoming his neighbors in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area.

Ren Heyong often inks the Chinese calligraphy of 'Shede,' signifying to gain in life, one must be willing to give. (Photo/Zheng Haotian)

Since retiring from an administrative management position, Ren has dedicated his weekends to teaching calligraphy and painting. Over the past four years, he has conducted more than 300 classes and taught over 500 students, ranging from young children to elderly adults. His dedication is driven by his love for art and his belief in sharing knowledge. "Every day I wake up, I feel life is full of sunshine, and I have no worries," he says. His curiosity and diverse interests keep him continually engaged and happy, with painting being his greatest passion since childhood.

Despite a challenging childhood marked by poverty, Ren's love for painting never waned. "As a child, I often copied paintings displayed in shop windows for hours," he recalls. The low cost of traditional Chinese painting materials allowed him to teach himself, and he later took professional classes when he could afford them.

Ren Heyong converted his courtyard into an open classroom for teaching calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting. (Photo/Zhou Shuman）

Ren converted his courtyard into an open classroom, providing all necessary materials, including paper, brushes, and ink, at no cost to his students. "Seeing my students engrossed in learning and making progress brings me immense joy," he shares.

Although not a professionally trained art teacher, Ren takes pride in his teaching approach. He begins each class by creating a complete painting, which he displays for the students to replicate step by step. "It's important for students to know what their finished work will look like, rather than just drawing blindly," Ren explains. He also emphasizes the importance of mastering fundamental techniques.

Ren Heyong practices painting at home. (Photo/Zhou Shuman)

Ren's enthusiasm has garnered support from his family and neighbors. His wife, Ms. Ouyang, a school teacher, helps with preparations, and the neighbors even offer their parking spaces to accommodate the growing number of students. "Especially in the hot summer, my wife and I prepare fans, drinking water, and mosquito repellent. If more students come, our neighbor will move his car to make room," Ren says. His reputation has spread, attracting students from afar and leading another community to invite him to teach on Fridays.

In addition to teaching, Ren stays busy with various hobbies and community activities, including dancing, playing musical instruments, seal carving, landscape design, and even offering free haircuts to neighbors. With over 7,000 followers and 449,000 likes on his Douyin account, Ren enjoys sharing his daily life with the public, believing this is the best way to spread positive energy and inspire other retirees to find their hobbies and joy.

Ren Heyong hosts free calligraphy and painting classes every weekend. (Photo/Ren Heyong)