Xing Zhou and his wife spend half their time in Beijing selling his and his family’s silver items while spending the rest of their time in the isolated silversmithing village of Maliao in southeastern Guizhou Province. Like all the other male members of his family, Xing Zhou learned the craft from his father at an early age and makes traditional silver items using such techniques are forging, planishing, engraving, repoussé, wire weaving and casting. He also continues cultivating his family’s rice terraces.