Feature: "Stone-Carving village" in Qinghai

　　(Source: People's Daily/Xinhuanet)

　　BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Shortly after Caiduodeng, a 39-year-old Tibetan herder, gets up before dawn, clashes between a knife and stones come out from his yard. He is hurrying on his stone-carving job to finish his customers‘ order.

　　When the sun rises above the horizon, stone-chiseling sounds can be heard in the whole village, while herders not far away are singing eclogues.

　　File photo shows Jimei Danpei, a Tibetan from Heri Village, Heri Township, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southeastern Qinghai Province, introducing his master‘s stone-carving works. (Xinhua Photo)

　　This is Heri Village, Heri Township, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southeastern Qinghai Province. The village has 189 households with 747 people.

　　The villagers used to live on nomadism. But four years ago, the village began to carry out project to return grazing land to grasslands and relocate herders for ecological protection. Now, 510 people from 100 households have moved to the township seat from the grassland.

　　With fewer cattle and sheep, what would the villagers live on became a major problem for these migrants. The herders often got together to discuss with one another.

　　They once talked about the stones on Mt. Jilong and Mt. Hada and thought of their stone-carving skill passed down from their forefathers.

　　Then they hit upon an idea, that is, to put down their whips and turn to the stone-carving business.

　　In 2006, the leaders of the village held four training courses for 400 people. They organized a stone-carving association in search of the market. Finally, the association has signed contracts worth one million yuan (146,000 U.S. dollars) with Xinghai County and Gande County in Qinghai Province.

　　The stone-carving technique has led the villagers to the path of prosperity. At present, 208 villagers are engaged in the business, with their total revenue reaching 500,000 yuan RMB (73,200 dollars) in the first half of this year.

　　Now, the villagers have set up the Heri Village Stone-Carving Technique Company and turned their eyes to major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.