Wuyi rock pigment painting in China's Fujian infuses modern artistic elements into tradition

An artist works on a piece of rock pigment painting in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 5, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

An artist grinds rock and soil into powder in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 19, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

Children work on a piece of rock pigment painting in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 20, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

An artist makes boards for rock pigment paintings in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 22, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

An artist grinds rock and soil into powder in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 19, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

An artist displays the rock pigment materials in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 22, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Dec. 21, 2025 shows decorative patterns painted with rock pigments on an ancient residential building in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

Artists communicate on a piece of rock pigment painting in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 21, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

An artist works on a piece of rock pigment painting in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 21, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

An artist communicates with children on rock pigment paintings in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 20, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

An artist works on a piece of rock pigment painting in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 5, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

An artist sieves rock and soil powder in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 19, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

An artist grinds rock and soil into powder in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 19, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

An artist arranges the rock pigment materials in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 22, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)

An artist makes boards for rock pigment paintings in Wuyishan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 22, 2025. Wuyishan boasts a wide range of colorful rock and soil, which serve as a natural palette for painting, giving rise to the distinctive Wuyi rock pigment art. Integrating modern artistic elements and techniques into tradition, Wuyi rock pigment painting is gradually becoming a unique cultural feature of Wuyishan. (Photo by Chen Ying/Xinhua)