More than 100 artists from China and overseas have gathered in Youyu County, north China's Shanxi Province, to paint landscapes that were once a barren, wind-swept wasteland for a sketching and watercolor art season which opened on Thursday.

For over seven decades, generations of local residents have planted trees and battled desertification, transforming the county's sandy terrain into a vibrant oasis of rolling hills and forests.
At the heart of this transformed landscape sits Shahukou, a 2,000-year-old town on the Shanxi-Inner Mongolia border. Once a military stronghold and trade hub, its unique scenery and architecture are now drawing international artists seeking inspiration.
"I like China because China has many building heritages like these. The castle, especially the little ornament, and the building, are very, very nice," said Nanang Widjaya, an artist from Indonesia.
"This is my first time vising China. It's like a dream comes true for me. And it's a huge, huge big culture in China, in everything, in music, in dance, in festivals, and especially the watercolor," said Praween Karmakar, an artist from India.
Youyu's lush forests, winding sections of the Great Wall and ancient fortress villages offer painters endless subjects.
"I always like to discover Chinese history. I feel that its history is so rich that there are so many things to read about, to learn. For artists, it's a great place to be, to enjoy and also to discover," said Minh Dam, an artist from Poland.
The county has established a dedicated accommodation center for visiting artists and regularly hosts outdoor painting events to support the creative influx.
"I think this is a very good plan for artists to promote art in China. And as a foreigner, we also have the chance to bring our artist friend here to do the communicate, to learn with each other," said Calvin Chua, president of the Malaysian Watercolor Society.
The event runs until August 15.