Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Du Jianhui) news: On August 11, 2024, in a processing workshop of the Korla Pear Craft Farmers' Professional Cooperative in Awat Township, Korla City, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the cooperative head Yakf Nazil and his apprentice were engraving pear wood fruit plates. A variety of wood carving crafts were displayed on the table nearby.

Photo taken on August 11, 2024 shows Yakf Nazil, the head of the Korla Pear Craft Farmers' Professional Cooperative, makes a musical instrument in Awat Township, Korla City, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Sun Shihan)

Yakf has been involved with wood carving for over 20 years, creating works that are both natural and exquisitely crafted. "I have loved wood carving since I was a child, and during high school and university, I would carve simple designs in my spare time. After graduating from university, I wanted to delve deeper into this art," Yakf said, his eyes sparkling as he talked about his entrepreneurial journey.

In 2009, after graduating from university, Yakf returned to his hometown and started doing business. Back then, he just earned an income of less than a thousand yuan, which prompted him to rekindle his passion on wood carving. He learned CNC machine technology, digital modeling, and programming himself, honing his exceptional wood carving skills.

In Yakf's carvings, the raw materials, like fragrant pear wood, are intricately intertwined with the craftsmanship, creating distinctive pieces that also incorporate the rich essence of Korla's fragrant pear culture, such as pear leaf-shaped plates, and pear wood ornaments inscribed with cultural verses of fragrant pears... He has been revitalizing the charm of his hometown with his wood carving skills.

Photo taken on August 11, 2024 shows distinctive pieces crafted by Yakf Nazil in the Korla Pear Craft Farmers' Professional Cooperative in Awat Township, Korla City, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Sun Shihan)

"My carving materials are all local pear wood, elm, mulberry, and other types of wood that are less likely to warp. Each piece requires eight steps from wood selection to completion, and just the wood drying process can take a month or longer. This ensures the wood does not crack and is more durable," said Yakf Nazil.

Initially, Yakf only carved simple patterns on musical instruments. To make his wood carvings more appealing, he observed and touched the objects repeatedly, delving into the wood carving techniques on the foundation of traditional craftsmanship, bringing the art of carving to be expressed in different ways on the wood. Now, in addition to making musical instruments, he also creates wood carving crafts with more aesthetic and practical value.

In 2022, Yakf established a cooperative, invested in two carving machines and a wood cutting machine, expanded production scale, and improved production efficiency. He also promoted handicrafts and musical instruments through the internet, with several of his works exhibited in the Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum of Awat Township.

"This rough processing carving machine is assembled from second-hand parts. It mainly uses 3D modeling and programming to write the drawings into the machine for the first carving. Before, I could only process a dozen pieces by hand in a month, but now with the machine, I can make more than 400 pieces a month," Yakf said, adding that he can earn hundreds of thousands of yuan a year.

Seeing Yakf's wood carving business thriving, villager Abdu Aini also went to learn wood carving techniques from Yakf. "The tree roots and stumps that were once burned as firewood have been carefully carved into exquisite craft ornaments, which gives me a great sense of achievement, and I also have a good income in a year," Abdu said happily.

Yakf said that next, he plans to register a trademark and create products with more connotation and characteristics, to create cultural and creative crafts that fit the times and have regional characteristics.

To support Yakf's entrepreneurship, Awat Township has provided him with a house as a processing workshop. When guests come to the township, the township officials will take them to visit and help him expand sales channels. Chen Fei, the deputy secretary of the Awat Township Party Committee, said that Awat Township encourages villagers to start their own businesses and fully implements relevant support policies to attract more young people to return to their hometowns to start businesses.

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