Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Suo Rongzhi) news: On December 10, 2025, after kneading, pinching, cutting and shaping, a piece of dough turned under Jiang Aihua's fingers into plump longevity peaches, lively koi and soaring dragons. These beautiful, symbolic sculptures, known as huabobo, have become a favorite for festivals and birthdays in Urumqi. As the inheritor of Gaomi dough-figurine craft, a provincial intangible culture heritage from Shandong, Jiang traveled thousands of kilometers to bring the century-old art to northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, letting the skill take root at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains.

Photo shows Jiang Aihua crafts dough sculptures in her workshop. (Photo courtesy of the interviewer)

Jiang lives in Sandaoba Village, Sandaoba Town, Midong District, Urumqi. After graduating from secondary vocational school in 1998 with a major in Western-style pastry, she became a pastry chef at a restaurant in Urumqi. Later, she and her husband ran their own restaurant, always staying close to dough and flour.

In 2019, a video about huabobo caught her eye; there are colorful dough sculptures shaped like lucky bags with tassels, lifelike mythical beasts, and vivid flowers and birds. These folk art pieces fascinated her.

After doing some research, she learned that huabobo is a traditional folk food unique to the Jiaodong region of east China's Shandong Province. In 2009, Jiaodong custom of making huabobo was listed as a provincial intangible culture heritage. Though the tools are simple, the craft can create animals, plants, people, and more. During festivals, every household steams huabobo to wish for a happy and prosperous life.

"Western pastries focus on precise measurements, but huabobo carries the beauty of Chinese aesthetics. Every shape has a lucky meaning," Jiang said. Despite her baking background, she struggled while learning online. The process involves over a dozen steps; dough texture, fermentation temperature, and shaping pressure all matter. One small mistake could ruin everything.

To master the craft, she reached out to Zhang Dongqin, a master of Gaomi dough art, and in February 2024, traveled to Shandong to study for two months.

During her training, Jiang practiced over and over. If she failed, she started again, kneading the dough repeatedly. "The most unforgettable moment was the first time I steamed a huabobo with a shiny, translucent finish. It looked so alive. I knew all the effort was worth it," she recalled, her eyes full of determination.

Photo taken on September 28, 2025 shows Jiang Aihua presents her huabobo at an event in Midong District, Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo courtesy of the interviewer)

After returning home, Jiang turned her courtyard into a workshop. She brought in professional equipment and started making huabobo in earnest. She insisted on using natural colorings like spinach juice, pumpkin puree, and dragon fruit powder, keeping the wheat aroma while adding nutrition and vibrant colors.

"Longevity peaches symbolize health and long life. Koi fish mean abundance year after year. Dragons and phoenixes are perfect for weddings," Jiang explained. Now, locals often order huabobo for festivals, birthdays, and weddings.

As her reputation grew, more people came to learn. Five villagers are now her apprentices, and Jiang has been named a district-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor. "I hope this craft keeps passing on, so more people can feel the charm of Chinese dough art," she said.

"Huabobo is not just food — it's a carrier of folk culture," said Xiong Caiwu, deputy Party secretary of Sandaoba Town. The local government is supporting the training of heritage artisans and promoting craftsmanship. Through a specialized model, they've built a workshop that combines experience, display, and sales. It also serves as a training base for heritage skills.

The town is also integrating huabobo with rural tourism, using short videos and other platforms to promote it as a cultural attraction. Thanks to these efforts, this "fingertip heritage" is becoming a cultural calling card for Sandaoba Town.

"I want to give huabobo more Xinjiang flavor, maybe adding grapes or pomegranates, so this ancient craft can bloom anew on this land," Jiang said.

In her hands, a simple piece of dough carries not just tradition, but also hope for a beautiful life.

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