In Chinese culture, 风景 (fēngjǐng) is a profoundly important concept, tied closely to art, poetry, and philosophy. For thousands of years, scholars, poets, and artists have sought inspiration in nature's landscapes. This reverence is most famously captured in traditional Chinese landscape painting, known as 山水画 (shānshuǐhuà), which literally means “mountain-water painting.” These paintings aren't just realistic depictions; they are expressions of the artist's emotional and philosophical connection to nature, often reflecting Daoist ideals of harmony and living in accordance with the natural world. When a Chinese person says, “这里的风景很美” (zhè lǐ de fēngjǐng hěn měi)—“The scenery here is beautiful”—they are often tapping into this deep cultural appreciation. It's more than just a “nice view.”
风景 is an extremely common and practical word used in many modern contexts.