Song Zhuang Artist Village, located in Tong Zhou District (eastern suburbs of Beijing), is the most famous and biggest artist community in Beijing. Now nearly 400 artists live in Song Zhuang, which is seen as synonymous with the Chinese avant-garde not only in China but also in other countries. From the beginning, most of the residents in the village have been avant-garde painters. Now the area accommodates one of the largest artists' communities in China, drawing painters of varying styles; ranging from the avant-garde to the academic. Sculptors and photographers also call the area home. Village painters believe that the quiet and independent environment in the countryside not only brings them closer to nature, but also allows for independence and the intellectual distance they feel is needed for the distraction-free practice of art. For many of the village artists, nothing is more important than a steady, unhurried, and unrestricted life. They live as they like and each day they are among friends. From Hostile to Flourishing Coming from different areas of China, most of the artists don't have a stable job, but rather live by selling their works. In the early 1990s, freelance artists from all over China began to come and settle in Song Zhuang. At that time, the old villagers were hostile to these newcomers, which was unavoidable in such a stable and closed village. Painters had to pay much more than other villagers at the time whenever the village built roads or installed ammeters (electricity meters). After 2000, this condition greatly changed. Painters gradually obtained a relatively equal status in the village. Now, whenever some important things happen, some painters with a high prestige even are invited to discuss with the villagers.However, the life in the countryside is not as simple as one might imagine. With more and more artists flooding into this Song Zhuang, the house prices here are increasing year by year. For most of the artists, their life's burdens are heavy; some of the painters have had to move away. Nevertheless, innumerable young painters view Song Zhuang as a holy land. It seems that living at Song Zhuang denotes a special status. Moreover, success by some of the "pioneers" has attracted more "successors." As Beijing's biggest painters community, Song Zhuang has built several huge art centers, and eventually some important art museums and corridor will also enter the village. Painters' Special Lives Though painters come from different places and have different backgrounds, when they arrive at Song Zhuang, they all become "freelance artists." Artists like to call themselves "village people." They live in farmhouses and share sunlight, land, and air with common farmers. They love old furniture, and raise crude and atrocious dogs. When they scold dogs, their sounds are often mixed with the farmer-like tone, sly and proud. Different from other citizens, Song Zhuang artists like dropping by for a visit, chatting, and playing cards. They are extremely satisfied with the unrestrained village life. Most of the artists have a free life without rules. They sleep at daytime and work at night. They seldom read newspaper, listen to the music, or watch television. Computer is a rare gadget for them; they disdain to learn how to use it. What they are really interested in is talking about gossip and spreading rumors in their free time. Different people come to Song Zhuang with different dreams. Some want to make a pile of money, some want to get fame, and some just long for the tranquil atmosphere in the countryside.