Lai Shufang makes handmade shoes in Zhanqi Village of Tangchang Township in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 17, 2020. Lai Shufang, 62, has been engaged in handmade Tangchang shoes production for over 40 years. In Tangchang Township, Lai's family is the only one left still making Tangchang cloth shoes, which feature 32 procedures before its completion. Like many craftsmen, Lai was once worried that the handicraft would fade out and there would be no inheritors. However, the handicraft ushered in its opportunity to thrive when it was listed as provincial cultural heritage in Sichuan. In 2015, Ai Peng, Lai Shufang's son, resigned and came back to hometown to inherit the handicraft. After starting an online shop, Ai Peng increased high-end handmade shoes production, and handmade shoes sales have been soaring. With the increase of popularity and production, Lai also expanded her production team. So far, a total of 13 people have been engaged in the business, which also promotes the local employment and economic development. "The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted the sales, but we have confidence," Lai Shufang said. "As the production resumes and we keep upgrading our technique, we believe the sales figures of this year will be as good as last year's!" (Xinhua/Wang Xi)
