Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Ge Youjun, Correspondent Zhang Junjian) news: On September 16, 2023, dozens of primary school students from Hutubi County, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, came to study at the Gourd Cultural and Creative Industrial Park in Xingfu Village, Wugongtai Town, Hutubi County. Looking at the various shapes of gourds planted at the industrial park and nearly a thousand carved gourd works, children felt as if they had come to a wonderful gourd world and were intoxicated with it.

Photo shows Tao Haibin teaches gourd carving and painting techniques to elementary school students who come to study. (Photo by Zhang Junjian)

Tao Haibin, head of the Gourd Cultural and Creative Industrial Park, and his father Tao Yanshan, who is called "Gourd Grandpa" by the children, were busy explaining the techniques of gourd carving and painting techniques to the students with great joy.

From simply doing gourd carvings and paintings to establishing the Gourd Cultural and Creative Industrial Park, the story started with a person, Tao Yanshan, the "Gourd Grandpa".

Tao Yanshan is 87 years old. After retiring in 1995, he began planting gourds. Gradually, he began to learn how to carve and paint on gourds, and has persisted for more than 20 years. Through day after day of practice and creation, Tao Yanshan proficiently mastered techniques such as gourd painting and carving. At the same time, he has also created nearly a thousand gourd painting and carving works with various elements such as characters, animals, landscapes, flowers and plants.

Tao Yanshan said that, at first, his works mainly focused on traditional themes such as the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, the Twelve Zodiac Signs, and items that represent blessings, rewards, longevity, and happiness. Later on, his style gradually changed. “Art needs to keep up with the times, so I have created some works that reflect the themes of the times.”

In 2014, Tao Haibin began learning gourd painting and carving skills with his father. Tao Haibin has been fond of art since his childhood and has laid a good foundation in painting. He quickly mastered the art of gourd painting and carving with his father. With an active mind, he not only inherited his father's artistic talent, but also integrated his gourd works with various cultural symbols, making them become the unique cultural and creative products. In this way, the gourd that could only be sold for a low price is immediately valuable.

Photo shows Tao Yanshan's family. (Photo by Zhang Junjian)

In 2017, Tao Haibin and his son came to Xingfu Village in Wugongtai Town from Hutubi County and founded the Rural Maker Gourd Cultural and Creative Industrial Park. In recent years, the scale of Gourd Cultural and Creative Industrial Park has been continuously expanding, and gourd cultural and creative projects have also gradually enriched. In the park, visitors can plant gourds and make gourd related cultural and creative products, they can also appreciate the scenery of the park, learn the craftsmanship of gourd painting, gourd carving, gourd pyrography, and other handicrafts. They can also choose their favorite gourd cultural and creative products. Gradually, it has become a local tourist must-visit place.

As Gourd Cultural and Creative Industrial Park becomes increasingly famous, it has also benefited the villagers of Xingfu Village. A tourism company has been established in the village, which has organized villagers to plant gourds, produced gourd cultural and creative products, and developed farmhouses and homestays. The cultural and tourism industry in the village is gradually thriving.

“We plan to build a gourd museum, an intangible cultural heritage workshop, and a gourd theme park, while also developing products such as gourd wine and gourd banquets, building a new form of rural tourism,” said Tao Haibin when talking about the future development.

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