Inner Mongolia engraver keeps art alive

Yang Lei, a micro engraver from Inner Mongolia, uses a magnifying glass. [Photo/hhhtnews]

Yang Lei, a craftsman from Inner Mongolia, has been doing miniature engravings for more than 40 years. He has made a name for himself as a micro engraver. 

Yang was born in Hohhot, capital of Inner Mongolia autonomous region in 1968. He is, by his own admission, obsessed with miniature engravings.

When he was just an elementary student, he taught himself to engrave erasers and apricot pits. He saved money for one year to buy a set of tools.  

Materials such as peach pits, olive pits, apricot pits and cherry pits are used for engraving. 

The olive pit is the best because it is as small as a finger, fully reflecting the precise skill of a craftsman.

Engraving on such materials requires almost superhuman efforts and dedication to remain completely still.

Yang's engravings usually feature distinctive symbols from Inner Mongolia, such as Mongolian yurts.

"The small engravings always captivate my imagination," said Yang.

He opened a workshop years ago and is planning to open training courses for students like his daughter.  

"I do believe these efforts will help the age-old art of miniature engraving to be passed on to future generations," he said.