Building a dream

Born in a poor family, he used to help his father to build houses brick by brick and do some woodwork in his boyhood, which made him a handy person and someone who doesn't shy away from hard work.

Although Qiao dropped out of high school during his teen years, he never stopped learning new skills on his own and has set foot in different fields.

After he moved to Beijing from Heilongjiang province in 1998, he became a welder, house painter, visual designer of a website, owner of a printing studio, editor of an indie magazine and a curator.

In 2006, he bought a guitar and learned how to write folk songs with the instrument. Soon he formed a band with his 9-year-old niece.

The next year, they released their first album, titled Xiaoshide Guangnian (Disappearing Lifetime).

Their debut in the music circles was successful as the album won several awards and enjoyed popularity among folk music lovers. He continued exploring music until he moved to Yunnan in 2013.

When Qiao wandered the streets there, a tricycle, with tools such as saws, hammers, nails, hatchets and chisels, drew his attention. The items belonged to a local carpenter who had just died.

The tools reminded Qiao of his younger days when he helped his father with manual work.

"When I was young, most people around me built their own houses. I also got to join my family members to construct our home and make furnishings," he recalls.

"However, as I grew up, I tended to be attracted by new things one after another and gradually left my boyhood memories behind. Then (in Lijiang) I decided to pick up the memories again."