A life of fine art

Liu cut his teeth on the jade carving craft at the Zhenping jade ware plant in 1991 and has worked his way up to becoming a master who has whittled jade carving down to a fine art.

He set up his own shop in 1995 coinciding with Zhenping being named the hometown of Chinese jade carving by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The booming industry has given rise to a growing number of craftsmen like Liu.

"Many from our generation have experience learning in the State-owned jade carving plant, where you can say every master has their own unique skills and expertise," Liu says.

"During the learning and carving process, every step has strict requirements, which not only helps beginners form good habits but allows them to learn from different masters, combining the best practices from various sources," he adds.

Starting in 2000, Liu worked with his teacher Wu Haizhou to tap into Dushan jade carving, studying its culture and conceiving innovations.

After years of work, Liu came up with the concept of creating art based on the original jade colors and forms while integrating existing techniques of interior and openwork carving.

Through the clever use of the jade's color, shape, and texture, Liu and his team have showcased the beauty of Dushan jade, which earned them gold medals from multiple national jade carving competitions, including the Tiangong Awards hosted by the Gems and Jewelry Trade Association of China.

Liu owes the rise of the jade industry to the persistence and enterprising spirit of local craftsmen.

"Since the 1980s, Zhenping people have seized opportunities and set up stalls to sell jade along the banks of the Zhaohe River. Subsequently, they established professional jade carving wholesale markets and expanded their reach nationwide," Liu says.

"In tourist attractions, hotels and commercial districts, you can find Zhenping people wherever jade is sold," Liu says.