Gan Bo, 42 years old, a master of root carving from Gansu province [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

During the recent intangible cultural heritage arts and crafts exhibition held in Anning district, Lanzhou, Gansu province, a dozen exquisite root carving works were appreciated by guests from around China.

Gan Bo is a representative inheritor of root carving. Over the past 20 years, he has matured from an apprentice into to a master. "Root carving takes the natural and distorted forms of tree roots as the object of artistic creation," said Gan, "it involves three parts man-made and seven parts nature."

Skilled in carving old cave dwellings, villages and field farming scenes on the loess high slope, Gan used the craft to reproduce the disappearing cultural symbols of his hometown.

"Root carvings can be a carrier to display and preserve local folk culture. I hope viewers will think back to the past when they see such works," he said.

At present, Gan has created a hundred root carving works, and has won dozens of awards in national, provincial and municipal exhibitions.

In order to pass on the traditional skill, in 2016, Gan Bo initiated the first root carving artist association in Gansu province, and established a root carving art teaching base.

"People who love root carving can receive free training here, and they can teach others once they have a sound grasp of the skills."

Gan's greatest wish is to see more young people fall in love with and engage in root carving, and to continue carrying forward the time-honored culture.