Now that’s a gourd looking piece of work!

Huang Ajin, a gourd carving artist, did his magic for Shanghai Daily in celebration of its 20th anniversary. Since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), people have used needles to etch all kinds of images onto the surface of the gourd, including people, landscapes, flowers and other patterns, usually accompanied by poems or calligraphy. Tourists who visit Lanzhou do not leave without holding a carved gourd in hand.