Suning, Hebei: "Sugar Figure Village" Carries On a Century-Old Sweet Art

In Xibozhuang Village, Suning County, Hebei Province, the craft of "blowing sugar figures" has a history of more than a hundred years. "Blowing sugar figures" is a traditional Chinese folk handicraft, and its main ingredient is maltose. Artisans heat, melt, stretch, blow, and shape the maltose to create all kinds of lifelike "sugar figures." In 2019, Suning's "blowing sugar figures" was included in the provincial-level intangible cultural heritage list.

In order to further explore, protect, and pass on this folk art, Xibozhuang Village, with the support of relevant departments, established a sugar figure art troupe, built a "Sugar Figure House," and opened "sugar figure" training classes to preserve and promote the traditional craft of "blowing sugar figures."

At present, the number of inheritors of "blowing sugar figures" in the village has grown to nearly one hundred. They are often invited to perform at major scenic spots across the country and are deeply loved by tourists.