Glassblower hopes to pass down skills of traditional craft

"Watching the red-hot molten glass pass from one worker to another and finally transform into crystal-clear glassware is like magic," Luo said. "I really enjoy the process, as each piece of glassware is born in my hands like artwork."

In 2000, after graduating from middle school, Luo joined the company as a delivery worker. She developed a strong interest in glassblowing and secretly practiced with leftover materials after work.

She said that even with two layers of gloves, the blowpipe was heavy and hot, causing her palms to blister over time. "Women's hands are usually delicate, but mine are covered with thick calluses," she said, showing her hands to a China Daily reporter.

The work of a glass smith is intense and technically demanding, so few women take on the role. Among the nearly 2,000 employees at her company, only about a dozen are glassblowers, and Luo is the only woman.

"When I work, I clear my mind of everything else and focus solely on glass pulling," Luo said.

In 2003, she achieved her dream of becoming a glassblower, which also brought her a better income. By then, she had mastered all the skills in the factory, including feeding materials, shaping molds, blowing and pulling glass. "After long hours of practice, I not only mastered the technique for pulling short glass stems of 100 mm but also the skills for pulling stems over 200 mm," Luo said.

Now, Luo can simply glance at a sample glass and touch it to know how much force to use to meet a customer's specifications.

In 2013, Luo won first place in the glass pulling category at the first glassware industry skills competition in Qixian. She has also received the National May 1 Labor Medal and the title of Qixian Glassware Artisan.