Millennia-old copperware-making craft of N China's Datong continues to shine through innovation

Artisans make copperware at a workshop in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Fan)

Dating back more than 2,000 years, the copperware-making craft of Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, still captivates people today with its unique charm that blends traditional craftsmanship with modern design.

Featuring entirely hand-forged production and meticulous engraving, the craft has been inscribed on China's list of national-level intangible cultural heritage.

Artisans work with quality materials such as red copper and brass, taking the products through more than 10 meticulous processes, including material selection and proportioning, copper melting and casting, forging and shaping, welding and assembly, engraving, tin coating for corrosion protection, and grinding and polishing.

Li Anmin (right), an 85-year-old representative inheritor of the copperware-making craft of Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, works with his son Li Xudong to develop new copperware products. (People's Daily Online/Wang Fan)

A typical piece can take several days of painstaking work, while more elaborate pieces may require months to complete. Each step demands skill and patience, according to Li Anmin, an 85-year-old representative inheritor of the craft.

Li has spent more than six decades studying, preserving, and passing on the craft.

For years, Li has sought to adapt the traditional craft to contemporary tastes by redesigning traditional products and reconnecting the craft with modern life. His efforts have helped preserve Datong's copperware culture while making it more accessible to today's consumers.

"Greater innovation leads to greater acceptance of Datong copperware," Li said.

Today, Datong artisans have developed more than 200 varieties of products based on the traditional craft. Among them, copper hot pots are a signature product, reflecting the tradition of family gatherings and shared meals in Shanxi.

An artisan uses a chisel and hammer to engrave patterns on the surface of a piece of copperware. (People's Daily Online/Wang Fan)

Li and his apprentices have focused their efforts on improving the craftsmanship of copper hot pots while incorporating modern technologies and design concepts.

They have developed induction-compatible copper hot pots and incorporated decorative motifs drawn from Datong's cultural heritage, including the flying apsaras of the Yungang Grottoes and local folk traditions, into the designs, giving the copperware both a traditional character and a contemporary appeal.

Alongside innovation, Li has focused on training the next generation. He has taught more than 30 apprentices, hoping to help keep Datong's copperware-making craft alive by passing on his skills while continuing to innovate and develop new products.

A decorative motif of flying apsaras from the Yungang Grottoes adorns a copper hot pot. (People's Daily Online/Wang Fan)

Visitors learn about various copperware products made with the copperware-making craft of Datong, north China's Shanxi Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Fan)