Many people may throw away the pits inside fruits after eating them, but inheritors of nut carving（核雕继承人）have turned them into artworks instead.
Weifang nut carving goes back to the Qing Dynasty. During that time, an old imperial craftsman（皇家手艺人）Wang Dayan spread the skill to the local people in Shandong Province. Craftsmen back then often used peach pits（桃核）to show off their artistic skills. Because of the high level of carving skills needed, the traditional culture and its rich artistic theme, Weifang nut carving was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage（国家非物质文化遗产）in 2008.
"One nut, from 0.8 to 6 centimeters long, can be made into fan pendants, earrings, buttons, seals and so on," said Tan Wanhai, 48, an inheritor of Weifang nut carving. Tan has studied the art of nut carving for 25 years and has created many nut carvings.
However, the craftsman also said that bringing this kind of artwork to life is not easy. "Unlike some pits like olive（橄榄）pits which have a flat surface, each peach pit has its own special texture（质地）like human fingerprints, " Tan said, adding, that, craftsmen have to study each peach pit to carefully plan out their artwork.
Nut carving craftsmen also need to have knowledge in many areas. According to Tan, they have to master skills in painting, seal carving and calligraphy from many traditional cultures.
Thanks to their creative design and fresh ideas, Weifang nut carving artworks have been increasingly welcomed by people in China. More people are learning the art and have even become inheritors to pass down the skill to young people.
"Now, the number of inheritors is about 1,000. But I believe it could be bigger. More craftsmen now give up the tradition of passing down the skill only through the family and open it up to anyone who is interested in learning the skill," said Tan.
