20 The origin story of Qingshan Village Qingshan Village is located in Huanghu Town in the northwest corner of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, approximately an hour's drive from Hangzhou city. Surrounded by lush green mountains and clear waterways, almost 80% of this area is covered by forests. When global environmental organisation The Nature Conservancy was managing the Longwu Reservoir in 2015 — a drinking water source for Qingshan Village—they discovered fertilisers and herbicides had contaminated the water. After this discovery, China's first rural water source protection project was implemented here, resulting in the reservoir's water quality reaching the national Grade I standard within three years. With a new source of clean and local water, the villagers of Qingshan now have easy access to high-quality drinking water. In the wake of this success, The Nature Conservancy ambitiously pursued more rural small water source protection projects. With the assistance of village cadres, they used over ¥300,000 from the Free Foundation to lease more than 500 acres of bamboo forest from 43 farmers, allowing the natural environment to self-recover and turn into a lush forest. The remarkable results of Qingshan Village's water source protection project gained widespread attention, leading more people to rediscover the village's almost forgotten natural beauty. Individuals or groups focused on public welfare, sustainability, art design and traditional craftsmanship have been drawn to Qingshan Village's verdant environment and have come to dive in further. They have successively settled here, using their own expertise to build one vibrant space after another in the village. Qingshan Village officially began its renewal journey through the opportunity provided by the water source protection, gradually developing a rural revitalisation path supported by nature conservation, ecological tourism and traditional craftsmanship. Its development has been active and purpose-driven, enriching local cultures by perfectly integrating and promoting sustainable development through contemporary design. This transformation has allowed people worldwide to be inspired by its ambiance and natural wonder. A design landmark: The construction of the Rong Design Library In 2010, three renowned designers, Zhang Lei, Jovana Zhang and Christoph John, who founded the PINWU Design Studio, met in Milan and later came to Hangzhou to study local traditions and craftwork. In 2014, The Nature Conservancy invited them to Qingshan Village. Alongside their design team, PINWU, they taught craftsmanship to the villagers, laying the foundation for
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