Liu Xie Chang Noodles Factory, a now well-known workshop of handmade string noodles, has preserved not only the spirit of the String noodles Gantry in making string noodles by hand, but also the antique style of the old workshop, thus attracting many visitors and maintaining a significant position in the Mucha Art Season activities. It is now the most important handmade string noodles workshop in the Mucha region.

Mr. Liu Qin-Xian, the old master of this factory, has been making string noodles for fifties years. He considers preservation of this craft an important mission, and all his sons have carried on the craft, so at present, there is not yet any problem with inheritance. In this regard, this factory has a competitive edge over other string noodles workshops in Mucha.

1. Could you tell us you age?
I’m seventy five.

2. How long have you been making string noodles?
More than fifty years.

3. Do you live in Mucha from birth?
Yes, I do.

4. What motivated you to learn this craft at the beginning?
Where did you learn it? I used to think it great fun to make string noodles by hand and while watching, I wanted to try it myself and also to learn a craft for a living. My master is a native.

5. How long have the masters here been making string noodles?
These masters for the most part live in the neighbourhood and have been making string noodles for forty to fifty years.

6. How many string noodles at most can you produce in one day?
We can produce fifty to one hundred kilogram at most in one day.

7. Could you tell us the method of making string noodles?
We mix water and salt with flour, knead it and add some salad oil and corn flour to prevent adhesion. Then we have the noodles pulled and sunned, and the final step is to cut them apart.

8. What is the difference in making different string noodles?
The methods are almost the same, except that the Fuzhou string noodles must be pulled once more, and that the red string noodles and the white steamed string noodles should be steamed once again.

9. Making string noodles is very laborious, but many people like this food. Do you wish that this craft would be carried from generation to generation?
Sure. If you are interested in it, I am more than happy to teach you.

1. In your impression, what did the “String noodles Gantry” here look like?
There used to be many string noodles here. While looking from the lane, one could see many worker hanging up the string noodles, which were beautifully shining everywhere in this area.

2. When you made string noodles at home, there must be a lot of interesting things. Could you tell us some stories?
There were many stories. For example, we used to play with string noodles and tried pulling noodles at home, which then became our playground.

3. There used to be many handmade string noodles workshops here, but most of them have now disappeared. What do you think are the reasons for this?
There are many reasons for this, such as the urban development, air pollution, etc. Moreover, making string noodles by hand is rather laborious, and thus few people will carry on this craft.

4. Why don’t the string noodles snap when pulled?
The deft force applied in kneading dough is very important. If the dough is properly kneaded, the noodles pulled will not snap. Another reason for this is the skill of pulling noodles.

5. What do you think of the perspective of handmade string noodles?
In fact, we don’t have any special thoughts on it. If the craft can be carried on, it will be great. After all, this is a wonderful craft. But no one can foretell the future.