[Video provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Producing Helan inkstone, a traditional handicraft made from the stones of the Helan Mountains in Ningxia Hui autonomous region, is a highly complex and demanding process.

Hao Yanqiang, an inheritor of Helan inkstone-making techniques, has been learning stone-carving skills since childhood. Under his knife, raw stones can be polished and carved into exquisite inkstones, showcasing the beautiful fusion of nature and art.

A piece of raw stone needs to go through eight complex processes and technical procedures, which can take several months to over a year.

For Hao, superb skills and exquisite creativity are equally important. How to use colors for carving and making the patterns of Helan inkstone lively is a major challenge.

In recent years, the creators of Helan inkstone have turned their attention to new fields in Ningxia. By incorporating elements such as rock paintings and goji berries, they have introduced exciting new dimensions to inkstone art.