Disabled man establishes free nut-carving center

Ci Xiang, a 31-year-old mentally disabled man, established a service center in Heping district, Shenyang, capital of Northeast China’s Liaoning province, to help disabled people.

In 2013, Ci Xiang learned how to carve nuts from Li Yongli, a nut carver in Shenyang. Ci’s carvings have now won many awards.

Ci established the service center in 2016 with the help of the disabled persons’ federation of Heping district to teach disabled people how to carve nuts for free. The center currently has 17 enrollees.

The center is meant to help more disabled people live independently and encourage them to be more active in society. Ci Xiang and his “students” sell their works and donate the money to people in need.

Ci said his dream is to become a nut carving master and help more disabled people.

Ci Xiang carves a peach nut in Shenyang, Liaoning province, on July 11. [Photo by Long Lei/Xinhua]

Ci Xiang carves a peach nut on July 11. [Photo by Long Lei/Xinhua]