A craftsman makes a water vat at Zhangqiusheng’s workshop on July 2.

Two people carry a ready-made water vat.

A craftsman processes a water vat with his hands.

A hand-made water vat is a local craft with over two hundred years of history in Hongtong county, Shanxi province. The water vat is made from powdered stone found in the mountains nearby. With modern developments, many hand-made water vats are being replaced by modern containers and their folk craft is thereby vanishing.

Zhang Qiusheng's hand-made water vat mill is the one survivor out of 150 similar ones, but it runs for only half a year. "The hand-made water vat market has all but disappeared," said Zhang. "Only a few distilleries need a limited amount of my water vats for storing fermented wine and I have to offer a doorstep delivery service."

Only a few old local peasants can still make water vats. "This folk craft will be lost after my generation passes away," said an old peasant who earns around 2,000 yuan a month from such work.