Across China’s Hebei province, master artisans are captivating both visitors and local residents by preserving ancient cultural traditions during the Spring Festival period. In Zhangjiakou’s Xuanhua district, the distinctive aroma of burned wood fills a sunlit studio where Guo Chunlei practices the intricate art of gourd pyrography—an ancient technique using heat to create detailed artworks on gourd surfaces.
Guo, whose artistic journey began in 1993 after a transformative encounter with pyrography in Beijing, now skillfully manipulates a hot-tip soldering iron to bring powerful equine imagery to life on golden gourds. This year holds special significance as it coincides with the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac cycle. “The artistry lies entirely in the shading techniques,” Guo explained. “Through careful heat adjustment, we create dimension, emotion, and narrative within each piece.
The craftsman’s initiation into this specialized art form started with unconventional tools—a heavy soldering iron originally designed for sealing cooking woks. This modest beginning evolved into a three-decade passion that has become both his livelihood and artistic calling.
Throughout the Spring Festival season, cultural inheritors like Guo are participating in nationwide celebrations that allow public engagement with traditional craftsmanship. These interactions provide hands-on experiences that bridge generational divides and foster appreciation for China’s intangible cultural heritage. The resurgence of interest in such ancient arts demonstrates how traditional practices continue to find relevance within contemporary festival celebrations, offering both educational value and cultural continuity.