Students play musical instruments and experience music therapy in Zhangyang village. [Photo/FZ News]

This winter break, students from multiple universities gathered in Zhangyang village, Meixi town, Minqing county in Fuzhou, capital of East China's Fujian province, to engage in a social practice initiative. Together, they are on the cusp of establishing the nation's first "music therapy village".

Zhangyang village sits alongside the Minjiang River within the Minqing Huangchu Forest National Nature Reserve and is renowned for its scenic beauty and traditional architecture. Many people drive here on weekends to relax.

Led by five universities, including Tsinghua University, Huaqiao University, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fujian Normal University, and Minjiang University, over a hundred students from more than 10 universities nationwide are participating in the "music therapy village" project, marking an innovative advancement on previous university social practice initiatives.

Music therapy, which utilizes music to heal the mind and body, was initially introduced to the community by Huaqiao University and has since garnered positive feedback. In Zhangyang village, the project involves the harnessing of natural sound resources like insect chirping and flowing streams, integrating them with digital technology to create therapeutic materials.

"This is a novel way to alleviate people's anxiety, transforming rural areas from passive recipients of aid to leveraging natural ecology as assets for a 'healing economy'," explained Li Jingru, a member of the rural vitalization service team of the College of Engineering of Huaqiao University.

The project not only boosts the village's collective income but also entices young individuals to participate in operations, paving the way for a replicable and sustainable model for rural vitalization.

The construction report for the country's first "music therapy village" was recently finalized. During the winter break, Zhangyang village hosted the first Fujian Rural Music Therapy Week, featuring activities such as Baduanjin (a form of Taoist qigong that combines a set of eight traditional Chinese fitness movements with meditation and breathing), massage, and physical therapy.

Next, the project will see the transformation of ancient local houses and the establishment of an ancient house music therapy workshop.