Carving a hidden gem of heritage

Li, on the other hand, juggles carving with running the business. "She's the glue that holds everything together," Narisu says.

Despite her busy schedule, Li still spends much of her time on leather carving, a craft she deeply enjoys. One of the most challenging steps, she says, is "walking the blade" — using a special knife to carve patterns onto cowhide. This step determines the final look of the piece and requires a steady hand and focus.

"I love this process; it helps me focus completely," Li says.

Her dedication has earned recognition. In 2019, her leather-carved instrument case "Zhaojun departs beyond the Great Wall" won first prize in the product design category at a national vocational art and design competition. She has also received multiple awards in cultural tourism and ethnic handicraft contests.

Beyond selling her work, Li sees the competitions as a way to further her skills. "They give me a chance to improve and connect with other heritage artisans," she says.

Empowering others

As Li's leather carving studio grew, she made it a priority to help others, particularly people with disabilities. "Finding work is already challenging for them but here, they can learn a skill that might support them in the future," she says.

A mother of a 7-year-old, Li understands the struggles of balancing work and family. To support full-time mothers, she teaches some of them how to color leather carvings and gives them small orders they can complete at home. "Some take materials home, others come to the shop. It's not just about the income to them, it's about having a sense of purpose," she says.

In 2019, Li pursued a master's degree at the Mongolian State University of Education in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, where she honed her skills and gained inspiration from traditional leather carving techniques and patterns.