Millennia-old Luodian craft thrives in Qingdao, E China's Shandong

Han Hui, a fourth-generation inheritor of Qingdao's intangible cultural heritage of Luodian, processes raw shell materials in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (People's Daily Online/Liu Yingjie)

In an intangible cultural heritage workshop in the West Coast New Area of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, visitors are getting hands-on experience with Luodian — the millennia-old craft also known as mother-of-pearl inlay.

Dating back to the Shang (1600-1046 B.C.) and Zhou (1046-256 B.C.) dynasties, Luodian is widely regarded as "the living fossil of Eastern inlay art." Artisans use iridescent shells such as abalone and mother-of-pearl, cutting and polishing them into thin slices that shimmer with shifting hues of blue, purple, pink and green depending on the angle. These slices are then shaped into intricate motifs based on decorative designs and inlaid onto objects.

Inside the workshop, visitors can view an assortment of Luodian works, from refrigerator magnets featuring Qingdao landmarks to tea trays and jewelry boxes that blend practicality with artistry.

To make the traditional art more accessible, the workshop has developed simplified DIY kits, complete with pre-cut shell pieces and patterned templates, enabling visitors to experience the charm of Luodian with ease.

Visitors experience the craft of Luodian, also known as mother-of-pearl inlay, in a workshop in the West Coast New Area of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (People's Daily Online/Liu Yingjie)

A variety of Luodian works are displayed in a workshop in the West Coast New Area of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (People's Daily Online/Liu Yingjie)

Luodian refrigerator magnets incorporating Qingdao-themed elements are displayed in a workshop in the West Coast New Area of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (People's Daily Online/Liu Yingjie)

A visitor tries her hand at the Luodian craft using a simplified material kit in a workshop in the West Coast New Area of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (People's Daily Online/Liu Yingjie)

Han Hui, a fourth-generation inheritor of Qingdao's intangible cultural heritage of Luodian, explains Luodian techniques to visitors in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (People's Daily Online/Liu Yingjie)