Elodie from Switzerland grew up with chocolate, and the memories of making and eating chocolate with her family are sweetest for her. To her surprise, she could taste the “sweetness” while studying in Liaoning.

Today, Elodie and Scarlett from Liaoning International Communication Center went on a journey to Liaoning to look for craftsmanship together, to find a “sweet” intangible cultural heritage technique—drawing “Chinese sugar figurine”.

Shenyang Li’s sugar figurine originated in Shandong Province and thrived during the Daoguang Reign of the Qing Dynasty and then settled in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. In 2020, it was listed as the sixth batch of representative items of provincial-level intangible cultural heritage in Liaoning Province. The craftsmanship is divided into three categories: blowing, molding, and drawing. The production techniques are complex and exquisite, the color is bright and full, and the ancient method of cooking sugar process is fabulous. Today, Shenyang Li’s sugar figurine is traditional and innovative with diverse styles. As a popular time-honored brand of traditional culture, it has frequently appeared on the global stage, deeply loved by young people. What Elodie tried was the “drawing” in the craftsmanship of sugar figurine, and Ms. Li Fengyan, the fifth-generation representative inheritor of Shenyang Li’s sugar figurine, taught her unique “sweet” skills.

Shaking, lifting, pausing, releasing, and retracting, Li moved the spoon up and down, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Her movements were fluid without hiccups and a mighty and vigorous Chinese dragon “soared into the air.” Elodie marveled at Li’s performance with her eyes full of admiration.

Drawing a sugar figurine looks easy, but actually it is very difficult to do. Elodie suddenly got flustered when she picked up the spoon. Under the patient guidance and encouragement of Li Fengyan, she gradually practiced better and learned in a systematic manner. After a series of smooth movements, a lively and lifelike little monkey “jumped” in front of her. “Monkey” is Elodie’s zodiac sign. It is meaningful for Elodie to make a “sugar monkey” of her own zodiac sign in China. “I did have a SWEET experience today.”

Whether it is Chinese sugar figurine or Swiss chocolate, behind the “sweetness” is the craftsmen’s inheritance and enthusiasm for traditional skills, as well as their hard work and innovation day after day. After the immersive experience, Elodie kept saying, “The sugar figurine in my hand has double sweetness.”