Climbing the Great Wall is a dream for many people, and American architect, Jim Spear, not only climbed the Great Wall, but also made his home at the foot of the Great Wall, where he has lived for nearly 20 years.
"When I was young, I knew very little about China, but I knew about the Great Wall," said 68-year-old Jim Spear. "At that time, I never thought I would have the opportunity to visit the Great Wall, let alone live near it."
The place that Jim Spear and his wife Tang Liang call home is located in Mutianyu Village at the foot of the Great Wall, about 80 kilometers from the center of Beijing. They have a farmhouse that they designed and renovated themselves, a studio, a senior mobility scooter, and a dog.
Jim Spear started being interested in China when he was in college. In 1981, he came to Beijing to study Chinese, and he still vividly remembers the feeling of coming Chinese for the first time, "There were different people in this country, and everywhere there was full of laughter and vitality."
In 1982, he married Tang Liang, a Chinese student studying in the United States. Four years later, Jim Spear, who was studying Chinese politics at the University of California, Berkeley, decided to give up his pursuit of a doctoral degree and settle in Beijing.
"I realized that if I only studied China from the perspective of an outsider, I would not be able to truly understand this country. I wanted to witness China's development and changes with my own eyes."
Jim Spear's connection with the Great Wall began in the 1990s. While visiting the Great Wall in Mutianyu, he met a villager selling souvenirs.
"I admire you so much for being able to live in such a beautiful place near the Great Wall!" Jim Spear exclaimed.
"If you want to live here, I can help you," the villager replied.
At first, Jim Spear thought it was just a joke, but soon after, the villager really helped him rent a farmhouse in Mutianyu Village.
For the next 10 years, this farmhouse, nestled in the countryside and backed by the Great Wall, became a great place for Jim Spear and Tang Liang to relax and vacation. In 2005, Jim Spear quit his job in the city and moved to Mutianyu Village to embrace rural life.
Jim Spear, who is passionate about architectural design, carefully renovated his home at the foot of the Great Wall. The renovated house retains the rustic style of traditional homestays while incorporating unique modern designs. Jim Spear added windows of various shapes and sizes facing the Great Wall.
"In the garden, I can drink tea while admiring the Great Wall; in the study, my desk faces the Great Wall; in the bathroom, I can enjoy the beautiful view of the Great Wall while taking a shower," he said. "The scenery of the Great Wall changes with the seasons. In summer, the trees and grass are lush, and I can't see the Great Wall from my yard, but as the weather cools and the leaves fall, the Great Wall appears like magic in front of me!"
Shortly after moving to Mutianyu Village, the village party secretary and village committee director, Li Lianting, approached Jim Spear, hoping he could use his expertise to contribute to the development of the countryside.
After conducting research, Jim Spear rented an unused elementary school building and converted it into a restaurant and art glass factory, promoting sustainable tourism. Later, he also converted a dilapidated glass tile factory in the neighboring Beigou Village into a beautifully designed hotel. At the same time, he also renovated dozens of houses in the two villages.
Through continuous practice, this self-taught architect has developed his own unique style. "I spent a lot of time studying traditional Chinese architecture, reading Liang Sicheng's works, and visiting some remote rural areas to investigate ancient buildings that still exist. At the same time, I also absorbed Western traditional and modern architectural concepts."
Traditional Chinese structures, ancient wooden beams, Western-style art glass windows, walls and floors inlaid with glass tiles, modern bathrooms and kitchens... Jim Spear's designs blend Eastern and Western styles, old and new styles.
Jim Spear's contribution to the Chinese countryside earned him the "Great Wall Friendship Award" from the People' Government of Beijing Municipality.
Looking back on his nearly 40 years of life in China, Jim Spear has no regrets about his decision.
"Although I am an American, my home is in China," he said. "Whenever I sit at home and see the Great Wall in the distance, I always think, what a great nation this is, as long as they work together, they can create miracles."
Jim Spear is full of expectations for the future. He believes that China's booming economy and emphasis on protecting traditional architecture will bring him more development opportunities and creative space.
"I will continue to stay in China and design more unique buildings," he said.
