Craft and life

Milling technician Han Liping has won many awards for her dedication to China's aerospace industry.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Han, 42, uses digitally-controlled milling machines to produce parts of rocket launchers.

She has won many awards for her dedication to China's aerospace industry.

"It was very difficult to explain what Han and her team exactly do, because it's technical stuff. We talked to dozens of people in the relevant field and used some metaphors to make the program more appealing to common viewers," says Wen.

Having taken part in the production of three seasons of Masters of Their Craft, Wen says the interviews have enlightened her. The subjects seem to care less about money and fame, and passionately work to pursue the best.

Yue, the producer of the program, says such stories can tell the world about the rise of quality productions and professionals in China.

She recalls that the inspiration for the program came from an elderly man, who insisted on making transistor radios by hand for decades.

"When speaking about craftsmanship spirit, some people in China might think about Swiss watchmakers or Japanese sushi chefs. But we have our own such veterans," she says.

By reading comments online, Yue says she has found that the program has influenced a number of young viewers, who say they can now take up vocational learning as well.

Statistics from the broadcaster show that one of the most popular seasons has been watched nearly 300 million times online and generated 180,000 reviews on Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter.

In the past two years, many reporters and photographers of the TV channel have traveled to Shaanxi, Guizhou, Henan and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, among other parts of the country to interview 52 craftsmen and women for the program.