Fantasy Farmer Art Building Rhapsody
In Xinwei Town, Beiliu City, Yulin, Guangxi, a building that looks like it escaped from a fantasy story is challenging people's perceptions of traditional architectural aesthetics.
From afar, a 10-story building stands tall in the ordinary rural landscape, with Russian-style domes competing with Thai-style spires, French fences interwoven with Chinese pavilions. This building, known locally as the "Strange Building," is officially called the "Farmer Art Building." It has no design blueprints; all the designs exist only in the mind of a farmer.
Li Jiguang, an ordinary farmer from Beiliu City, used his lifetime savings and more than ten years to turn this wild imagination into reality with his own hands.
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01 Architectural Wonder: A Visual Feast Traveling the World
Passing through the fence, the first thing that catches the eye is the three large characters "Wildman Valley" at the entrance. Stepping inside feels like entering a dimension full of whimsical ideas.
Each floor has a unique theme and style, featuring sculptures of ethnic figures, ancient Chinese reliefs, an aerial glass bridge, mushroom pavilions, teapot fountains, a starry sky ceiling, a clock tower, and many other attractions.
The passage from the second to the third floor is designed as a tree hollow staircase, full of primitive charm. The third floor has a transparent glass bridge where visitors can experience the thrill of suspension and overlook the scenery below.
Higher floors present an even richer mix of styles: Russian onion-shaped domes stand side by side with French fences, while Chinese gardens blend harmoniously with Southeast Asian decorative elements.
Li Jiguang described his vision to visitors: "In my design, this building not only contains traditional art but also some elements of technological magic."
He plans to install advanced imaging equipment on the ceiling of the seventh floor to allow visitors to enjoy 3D images of plants and animals. Additionally, he intends to build a helicopter model beside the corridor, which from a distance will create the visual effect of a helicopter circling the rooftop.
02 Source of Dreams: A Farmer’s Persistence and Dedication
Li Jiguang, a native farmer of Beiliu, has loved painting and sculpture since childhood. As an adult, he worked in the construction industry, specializing in ecological building projects.
Although he never received formal training and cannot draw blueprints, he has unique insights into creativity and craftsmanship in engineering.
Regarding the motivation to build the structure, Li Jiguang said he heard foreigners think Chinese houses all look like matchboxes. To break this stereotype, he decided to build this "Farmer Art Building."
"Once completed, this building will be called the 'Farmer Art Building,' and it represents the essence of my life's design work," Li Jiguang said proudly.
Even more surprisingly, the building’s construction was not a whim. Li Jiguang claims it is the result of a 50-year cooperation agreement signed with relevant authorities.
Many years ago, the area was planned as a tourist zone, and the local government intended to build a landmark building here. Because of his achievements in ecological construction design, the authorities allocated over 3 acres of land to him and signed a cooperation agreement for him to design, build, and raise funds.
03 Construction Journey: Ten Years of Hard Work
The "Strange Building" began construction in 2014, entirely designed by Li Jiguang, with most of the main structure built by himself. Over seven years, he has spent 15 million yuan of his savings but has only completed 60% of the project.
The construction process has been extremely difficult. Due to limited funds, interior decoration has been done slowly by Li Jiguang himself. In 2021, he estimated it would take about another year to complete the entire project.
However, as of 2025, the building is still being improved, showing the scale of the project and Li Jiguang’s persistence.
Materials come from various sources, and Li Jiguang continuously invests the profits he earns from other contracted projects into this building.
He cannot draw blueprints; every design is stored in his mind and directly transformed into reality during construction. This unique building method gives the "Strange Building" the charm of spontaneous creation.
04 Internet Celebrity Attraction: An Unfinished Tourist Hotspot
Although the "Strange Building" is not yet fully completed, it has already attracted many visitors. During this year’s Spring Festival, it received up to ten thousand visitors in a single day.
Since the May Day holiday, tourists from various places have come daily to visit and take photos, making the "Strange Building" a popular internet celebrity spot.
Visitors have mixed reviews: some praise it, saying, "What a unique building! The person who built it is so imaginative." Others comment, "From the side, the building looks like an ancient warship sailing." Some say, "It seems like all the world-famous buildings appear on this building."
Currently, visitors must pay a 20 yuan entrance fee to visit the "Strange Building." However, reports say Li Jiguang has stated that after the building is fully decorated, it will continue to be open to visitors for free.
The current ticket fee may be to offset the increasing construction costs.
05 Cultural Significance: A Vivid Expression of Folk Creativity
The existence of the "Strange Building" breaks the boundaries of people's perceptions of farmers and traditional architecture. Li Jiguang’s creation showcases the raw impulse and unrestrained imagination of folk art.
Some cultural critics compare the "Strange Building" with another famous Yulin building, the "Yuntian Palace," saying they together embody the cultural code of the Yulin region: "If the Strange Building represents the rustic and common, Yuntian Palace is the refined and elegant. Though seemingly far apart, both are unique in the world."
Li Jiguang has beautiful hopes for the future of the "Strange Building": "People can put down all their worries, enter this 'Farmer Art Building,' relax, open their hearts, and enjoy wonderful times."
In his imagination, visitors can return to a primitive tribe like wild men and regain their innocence; they can also appreciate the perfect display of Chinese and Western cultural arts.
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Li Jiguang said this building is the essence of his life's design work. From a certain perspective, it indeed transcends architecture itself and becomes a symbol of the persistent pursuit of dreams.
Today, this "Strange Building" still quietly stands on the land of Beiliu City, attracting many visitors.
Perhaps true creation never confines itself to rules—this still-growing Strange Building is a dream diary written by an ordinary person with bricks and tiles. Farmer Art Building (Strange Building)