Gourd pyrography finds new life through a young Xinjiang returnee

Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Song Haibo) news: "Line up, kids. Hold your gourds steady and have your design clear in mind before you start." Subinur Reyim bent down to guide her students at the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) courtyard in Baiyang Village, Qiman Town, Kuqa City, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on July 29, 2026.

That day, over 200 students from a local middle school visited the courtyard to learn the art of pyrography on gourds.

Subinur is 23. She graduated from Xinjiang Agricultural University with a degree in mathematics. To many, her academic background seems a world away from the heritage craft she now pursues.

"Mathematics demands precision; gourd pyrography demands the right heat," she said. "But at the end of the day, both require absolute focus."

Her journey into pyrography began during a Spring Festival market in town in 2025, before she graduated. She brought handmade items like paper-cuts and knitted bags to try her hand at selling. "Party secretary Zhang Xinhua saw my work and thought I had a gift for crafts. He asked if I would like to come to the ICH courtyard and give it a try," she recalled.

Subinur (R) and another villager practice pyrography on gourds at the intangible cultural heritage courtyard in Baiyang Village, Qiman Town, Kuqa City, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Huang Mingwei)

At the time, Baiyang Village was expanding its ICH workshop and looking for young, skilled artisans willing to settle in the countryside. Local officials reached out to her multiple times. They explained the village's plans and offered training support and a platform to work.

Driven by her love for traditional crafts and a desire to contribute to her hometown, Subinur decided to return after graduation.

Gourd pyrography had few practitioners locally. Subinur saw this as a chance to take on something new, so she chose to focus on the craft. But the reality of working with a pyrography pen soon set in. Between a hobby and a profession stood countless failed attempts and burned fingers.

The craft demands a steady hand and precise control. The pen tip reaches 300 to 400 degrees Celsius. Too low, and it leaves no trace; too high, and it scorches. One slight tremor and the work is ruined.

A pyrography gourd is on display. (Photo by Subinur)

She started by teaching herself through online videos. Trial and error marked her early days, with burned fingers, broken lines, and rough shading.

When she hit a plateau, the local government helped arrange training trips to Hangzhou, Shandong, and Beijing.

She brought a mathematician's mindset to her work, breaking down the process into variables like temperature control, pressure, and brush speed.

"It's like solving a math problem," she said. "Once you figure out each variable, you get the right result."

After a year of hard work, Subinur gained precise control over the heat of the pyrography pen and took her craft to a new level. Her growing skill is reflected in pieces ranging from the intricately lined "Music and Dance of Kuqa" to the vividly expressive "Five Gods of Wealth."

She has also grown beyond her workbench. Once a quiet artist working alone, she now speaks with confidence before groups of curious young visitors, explaining the craft with ease and clarity.

Subinur (R) instructs her apprentice on pyrography techniques on gourds at the ICH courtyard in Baiyang Village, Qiman Town, Kuqa City, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Minawar)

She has also taken on four apprentices. One of them is her neighbor, Minawar Eli.

"During the winter, I would stand beside her and watch her work. I gradually fell in love with the craft. Now I can make small ornaments on my own, and it gives me a real sense of achievement," Minawar said.

The reach of the ICH courtyard has been growing.

In September, 2025, with support from the local government, the village opened a heritage-themed café in the historic Kuqa Lane, blending traditional crafts with a trendy retail setting.

Subinur has been involved in the shop's operations and product design. She adapts her creations to tourist preferences and market trends, making sure her products are both culturally rich and commercially viable.

Today, she earns nearly 5,000 yuan (about 690 U.S. dollars) a month and has put down roots in her hometown. Subinur said she had found the life she wanted: staying in her hometown, being close to family, and doing work she truly loves.

Subinur plans to start a short-video channel. "I want more people to see the Kuqa culture on these gourds," she said. "And I hope more young people like me will come back and see how big the stage is here."

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