Beauty of reduction

Local governments began to become aware of the treasures that lay under their noses in the form of woodblock prints, and Nakeli's reduction woodblock print studio, backed by local governments, became a thriving center for farmer artists. Hundreds have graduated over the years, venturing into the world of woodblock art, and they have prospered financially.

Tao Shuangquan, a farmer who had had no formal art education, created popular horse caravan prints after a month of training in a woodblock print studio, and his prints became wildly popular.

Another farmer, Li Jinchang, 30, achieved success with prints depicting rural life scenes such as village views from a cow's back and shepherd boys herding or catching crickets.

Tao and Li are part of a government-sponsored training initiative that involved 100 farmers from around Nakeli that aims to rejuvenate culture in the village and to boost cultural tourism.

Prints measuring 40 centimeters x 30 centimeters take one or two weeks, with each reduction woodblock yielding about 12 copies sold at the equivalent of up to $40 a piece, greatly increasing local villagers' incomes.