Sharing gourd carving skills with others is part and parcel of this heritage practice for Ruan Xiyue, an artisan in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province. Born into a family of gourd carving practitioners, Xiyue runs a DIY course at a museum in the city, aiming to guide culture lovers through a hands-on experience with the craft. Carved gourds are believed to have first appeared in Lanzhou when they were taken by merchants traveling along the Silk Road long ago. They later emerged as a form of intangible cultural heritage of Lanzhou. Today, Xiyue presents a gourd carving workshop that passes on the ancient skills and traditional craftsmanship.