Inside a repurposed factory building in Shenyang, Liaoning province, the scent of tanned leather blends with fresh coffee. At the workshop of Fang's leather trunk carving, post-90s artisan Zhang Wenge sits at her workbench, carving knife in hand, etching intricate relief patterns into a sheet of hide.
Zhang is the fifth-generation inheritor of Fang's leather trunk carving, a traditional folk art from northeast China. Inscribed on Liaoning's provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage roster in 2020, the craft is celebrated for its unique relief technique that raises three-dimensional, auspicious patterns on leather surfaces.
Originating in the late 19th century, the craft evolved from carved wooden trunks into leather-covered cases. Today, it falls into two categories: embossed leather trunks and embossed leather decorative paintings.
Crafting a single finished piece demands 108 fully manual steps covering design, leather softening, outlining, carving, striking, shaping and dyeing, all requiring steady, precise and deft hands.
"Carving the corners is the hardest part," Zhang explained. "We use an exclusive concentric stitching method that relies entirely on years of tactile experience to form neat 3D curves."
For decades, the art was once a craft deeply woven into local customs. Owning a pair of elaborately carved leather trunks was once a wedding staple. At the peak of demand, Zhang's great-grandfather produced a pair every week, with customers queuing at the family's doorstep.
However, as social customs shifted, demand declined. The craft was reduced to a quiet personal hobby for Zhang's grandfather.
The turning point came in 2014 when the art was designated a district-level intangible cultural heritage item. After graduating from university, Zhang spent nearly 10 years apprenticing under her grandfather before approaching the heritage as a modern startup venture.
"My philosophy is to inherit tradition without blind imitation, and to innovate while preserving cultural roots," Zhang said.
To make the centuries-old craft youthful, stylish and commercially sustainable, Zhang reevaluated every aspect of the family business, from motif selection and product pricing to sales channels and brand identity.
She revamped her designs with vibrant colors and modern silhouettes. Beyond traditional trunks, she expanded into lightweight everyday items, crafting carved leather pendants, key chains and earphone cases, now sold at major venues including the Liaoning provincial museum.
"Eye-catching modern design is what draws young people in first," she said. "Once their interest is sparked, I share the cultural heritage and auspicious stories behind the motifs to deepen their connection to the craft."
In 2025, Zhang relocated her studio to Hongmei park, a trendy creative hub transformed from a former monosodium glutamate factory. The neighborhood aims to break stereotypes surrounding intangible cultural heritage and bring living art closer to younger generations.
The spacious venue allows her to showcase large carved works while hosting a hands-on experience area for visitors. "Hongmei park is a stylish neighborhood with heavy foot traffic from young people," Zhang said.
Social media platforms further expand her reach. A tourist from Shanghai recently squeezed three hours to craft a custom souvenir before racing to her flight home. "Moments like these make all my persistence and efforts worthwhile," Zhang reflected.
Local visitor Wang Jia was equally captivated after making a pendant. "I used to think intangible heritage was old-fashioned, but this perfectly bridges classic craft with modern style."
Looking ahead, Zhang remains steadfast in her mission. "The revival of age-old craftsmanship and modern formats complement each other," she said. "As long as we keep creating, this heritage will endure, and the dedication of past generations will never be in vain."
Luo Yue, Pan Pan, Song Qingzheng and Qian Yulu contributed to the story.
