Panjin

Situated to the Southwest of Shenyang in Liaoning Province lies Panjin, a flourishing city in Northeastern China. Originally formed as an oil town, Panjin has grown into a bustling and culturally rich city. Among Panjin’s modern looking architecture and quiet streets is a booming culture of art. From September 22 – 24, Panjin hosted a number of events, including the 2017 Traditional Chinese Realistic Painting Art Fair at the Liaohe Art Musuem, The Silk Road New Atmosphere – China & Ukraine Photography Art Exchange Exhibition, and Exotic Shining Eyes – Asian Art Fair International Artist Panjin Tour Photography Exhibition. The event brought together two unique cultures, with both Ukrainian and Chinese artists featured in the exhibit, highlighting the culture and humanity of both countries.

The city is eager to develop its art scene, as it is home to a large and modern art district, housing a number of galleries and artists workshops. Ranging from traditional Chinese watercolor to abstract pieces, the art district was reminiscent of Beijing’s 798 art district. Surrounding apartments had large murals painted on the outside, breathing life into what would have otherwise been standard buildings. The art scene is alive and well, with a number of local artists gaining both national and international acclaim for their work.

RICE

Looking out over the yellow grass of the rice fields is 大米 (Da Mi), or as it’s commonly referred to, “The best rice in China.” The short grain rice of Panjin are of high quality and great taste. Combined with the clear blue skies and crisp Fall air, Panjin is a nice escape from the business of Beijing’s city life. Although skeptical, from personally trying multiple dishes which offered Panjin’s dami, I do think the rice is better than rice I’ve eaten in Beijing. I would describe it as fuller, fluffier, and smaller than the rice I’ve had in Beijing. Something that goes along nicely with Panjin’s famous dami is their Chinese mitten crabs, a famous delicacy in Chinese cuisine.

RED BEACH

From the 5th story of a bright red platform, one can look out over the Red Beach (红海滩), which is famous for its landscape featuring the red plant of Suaeda salsa (碱蓬草). Stranded wooden fishing boats sit perched on the sandy banks, reflecting the culture of an older era. As the sun shone, the cool wind rustled over the beach, which stretched as far as the eye could see. Compared to having seen pictures of this online, seeing it in person was unquestionably more impressive. Serving as a barrier between the land and the sea, Panjin’s Red Beach is not only beautiful, but is also home to hundreds of birds and animals.