In this brave new digital era, farmers are finding ways to evolve with the times while still holding fast to their traditions, Meng Wenjie reports.

In the quiet and secluded parts of rural China, Xiang Qingbiao, a man born in 1990, leads a life quite unlike the bustling urban existence that defines modernity. His home is Guzhang county, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture, which is located deep in western Hunan province.

Xiang Qingbiao and his 23-year-old nephew, Xiang Hongjun, jointly operate a video channel called "Shan Bai". Through their videos, they showcase handicrafts and rural life in China, captivating many young urban viewers.

"Life here unfolds at its own pace. We cultivate crops and vegetables and occasionally purchase meat at the market," Xiang Qingbiao said. "I've come across numerous comments from people who watch our videos while lying in bed at night after a busy day of work, finding them truly relaxing and comforting. I think it's fantastic, and it aligns with our initial intentions."

Five years ago, Xiang Qingbiao resigned from his job as a customer service representative in Shanghai and returned to his hometown in Guzhang county, embarking on a new journey as a video blogger. At present, he dedicates his time to planning and filming videos after completing his daily farm work.

"Back in 2012, when I was a college student, filmmaking ignited my passion, and it has continued to be a profound and enduring interest," he said.

Following in his uncle's footsteps, Xiang Hongjun made the same life-altering decision. Having graduated from college last year, he also returned to his hometown in April from Changde, a city in Hunan, and ventured into the world of video production alongside his uncle.

Now their video channel Shan Bai has amassed more than 59.8 million followers. Xiang Qingbiao conceptualizes, films, and edits the videos himself. Xiang Hongjun serves as the video presenter. Long Lingling, Xiang Qingbiao's wife, manages the day-to-day operations of the video account, and other family members also contribute to the video production process in different ways.

A video that showcases the techniques and production of Huizhou inksticks brought overnight fame to Shan Bai in July.

Inksticks are integral to Chinese painting and calligraphy. Huizhou inksticks are known as the finest of their kind.

As of Sept 19, the video had garnered nearly 10 million views on Douyin and received over 514,000 comments, making it the channel's most-watched video since it was created in April.

However, filming began long before the account's establishment. In fact, it took Xiang Qingbiao and Xiang Hongjun a year and a half to complete the video.

During this process, Xiang Hongjun faced a dangerous situation when he was bitten by a venomous snake. "When the video went viral online, I had been discharged from the hospital for just two days. When my family broke the news to me, I couldn't believe it. I thought they were making it up just to cheer me up," he chuckled. "I'm thrilled that all the efforts we put into the video have paid off."

In contrast to Xiang Hongjun's enthusiasm, Xiang Qingbiao has become more composed over time. "Farm work, crafting and filming keep us occupied most of the time. In fact, we don't have much time to focus on the data after the videos are released," he said, adding that his wife kept track of the data for him.

Despite attracting considerable online attention, the Huizhou inkstick video wasn't the most impressive achievement for the duo. They both mentioned another video about xiabu, a fabric made from woven vegetable fibers.

Xiabu is classified into different quality levels. After thorough research, the duo decided to tackle a relatively coarse variety, thinking it would be easier. However, they spent nearly half a month working tirelessly on it, encountering seven or eight failures during this period.

"It was by no means an easy task," reflected Xiang Qingbiao. "It's truly astounding how our ancestors produced such fine cloth with a basic wooden frame for weaving."

The process of making xiabu also left a deep impression on Xiang Hongjun, largely because each failure meant starting from scratch all over again. However, he displayed remarkable resilience. "Every time I failed, I would investigate the reasons," he noted. "When I couldn't pinpoint the cause, I would feel disheartened. But instead of giving up, I would make more attempts since I was certain that, with enough tries, success would be inevitable."

As for Xiang Qingbiao, he learns and recreates these ancient crafts through extensive research.

"I have been delving into ancient books like Tiangong Kaiwu (Heavenly Creations) and Qimin Yaoshu (Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People), as well as related texts on specific intangible cultural heritage," he explained.

Transitioning from theoretical knowledge to practical application, Xiang invests significant time in research. "Some ancient texts may not offer entirely clear instructions, and different sources sometimes provide varying descriptions, so it's necessary for me to conduct extensive research, spanning from online forums to academic papers."

"If I have the opportunity in the future, I hope to find teachers to learn from because I've encountered many detours in my exploration," he added.

According to Xiang Qingbiao, the most substantial challenge in video production isn't the craftsmanship itself, but rather "staying focused in an era of information overload". Fortunately, Guzhang county offers a peaceful environment that allows him to contemplate and create.

Leaving behind the bustling urban life of Shanghai and returning to rural life, Xiang Qingbiao has never had regret. "Living in the metropolis brought unpredictability, with many aspects of life beyond my control," he observed. "Life in rural areas is generally straightforward, and results are attainable as long as you put in sufficient effort."

Besides, Xiang Qingbiao holds a unique perspective on intangible cultural heritage. He believes that its significance lies not solely in physical objects and craftsmanship, but rather in the wisdom and culture they represent.

"As products of specific historical eras, these techniques and items naturally fade from daily life as productivity advances," he noted. "The purpose of our videos isn't solely to showcase the value of these objects; it's also to emphasize that while some of these items may gradually disappear from modern daily life, the enduring human wisdom that underlies them remains timeless."

Contact the writer at mengwenjie@i21st.cn