Guangming District has unveiled its first homegrown documentary, "Warm Sunshine of Jingkou Village," directed by renowned Chinese filmmaker Li Yawei.

The film offers a lyrical portrayal of Jingkou Village — an 800-year-old community where traditions, memories, and modern vitality intertwine beneath the gentle light of time.

Guided by the Publicity Department of the CPC Guangming District Committee and the Guangming District Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports, the documentary was crafted over two years with the support of the district’s special fund for cultural development.

Set against the backdrop of the Double Ninth Festival (Chongyang Festival), the documentary captures the spirit of Jingkou Village through the preparations for its most cherished annual celebration. It turns its lens on the village's intangible cultural heritage — from lai fun (handmade rice noodles) and roasted pig to zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and the lively Qilin dance — while weaving in stories of its residents, both old and young.

Once a quiet settlement of elderly villagers and returning overseas Chinese from Vietnam, Jingkou has in recent years attracted young entrepreneurs with global perspectives, who have brought new energy and ideas into the community. 

“Filming 'Warm Sunshine of Jingkou Village' was a challenge,” said Director Li Yawei in her production notes. “The village holds so much — the history of returnees from Vietnam, the legacy of Guangming Farm's pioneers, traditional crafts like lai fun and roast pig, the lively Qilin dance, and even a trendy coffee shop by the ancestral hall. To portray such a rich tapestry of time and emotion, I used a minimalist, almost sketch-like style, connecting all these stories through the thread of the Double Ninth Festival.”

Through its poetic cinematography, the documentary captures the contrast and harmony between the old and the new: the laughter of elders at birthday banquets, the songs sung for newborns, the weathered textures of ancient watchtowers, and the rejuvenated vitality of renovated homes.

Every frame of the documentary tells a simple truth — that tradition is not a constraint but a source of renewal. It is an ode to rural life, a reflection on belonging and identity, and a warm tribute to the enduring heartbeat of Chinese villages as they evolve into the future.

About the director

Li Yawei, a national first-class director and chair of the Shenzhen Film and Television Association, is celebrated for her humanistic approach to storytelling — “using life to record life.” Her notable works include "Hundred-Year Zhongying Street," "The Story of Shekou," "A City of Cultural Reverence," and "The Hakka People." Li's documentaries have won numerous honors, including the China TV “Feitian” Award, the Guangdong “Five-One Project” Award, and the Best Documentary Award at the Golden Maple Leaf International Film Festival in Canada.