Chongqing — Farmers carrying hoes, shoulder poles and bamboo baskets stepped onto a countryside catwalk on May 23 as Chongqing staged its first “Village T-Show,” transforming rural landscapes into a fashion runway that blended folk culture, intangible cultural heritage and contemporary design.

Performers present “Mudong Mountain Songs,” an item of intangible cultural heritage from Banan district in Southwest China’s Chongqing, during a cultural performance on May 23, 2026. (Photo/Natalia Vakhrusheva)

The event was held at Ant Farm on Yunzhuan Mountain in Banan district, where village pathways and open farmland became an outdoor stage showcasing local traditions and rural life.

The show opened with Jielong chuida, a traditional folk music performance from Chongqing’s Banan district featuring gongs, drums and suona horns. Performers of Mudong mountain songs later drew audience participation with melodic folk singing rooted in the region’s rural traditions.

Models present creative fashion pieces inspired by Qijiang peasant prints, a national intangible cultural heritage from Southwest China’s Chongqing, during a cultural fashion show in Qijiang district on May 23, 2026. (Photo/Natalia Vakhrusheva)

Villagers served as the main runway models, wearing clothing inspired by traditional ramie textile craftsmanship from Chongqing’s Rongchang district and Miao embroidery from Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county. Many carried native chickens, geese and fresh oranges, while others posed with hoes, shoulder poles and bamboo baskets commonly used in agricultural work.

The runway presentations combined elements of farming culture with modern fashion styling, turning everyday rural objects into visual highlights of the show.

Artisans from Rongchang demonstrated traditional ramie weaving techniques during the event. The lightweight textile, woven from ramie fiber and historically used for summer garments, was incorporated into contemporary clothing designs presented on the runway.

Miao embroidery artisans from Pengshui showcased intricate hand-stitched patterns using brightly colored silk threads, while fashion pieces inspired by Qijiang peasant prints incorporated the folk art form’s bold textures and vibrant visual style into garment design.

In addition to villagers, the event featured runway presentations by returning entrepreneurs, university students and professional models. Segments included ethnic-style fashion shows highlighting regional cultural traditions, themed performances centered on rural agricultural products and creative collections designed by university students.

Interactive activities such as rural markets, farming games and countryside photo areas allowed visitors to participate directly in the event and experience aspects of village life.

Wake Up, a championship-winning street dance team, performed modern dance routines, bringing youthful energy to the rural event. Chinese musician Liu Guangyu, a national first-class performer, also played the erhu.

Wake Up, a championship-winning street dance team, performs a modern routine during a cultural event on May 23, 2026. (Photo/Natalia Vakhrusheva)

The event highlighted the integration of agriculture, culture, tourism and fashion, offering visitors immersive rural experiences while showcasing Chongqing’s local traditions and intangible cultural heritage in contemporary forms.

The “Village T-Show” is expected to expand into more rural areas across Chongqing as part of broader efforts to revitalize the countryside through cultural and tourism development.