Pingtan, a vibrant international tourism island in Fujian Province with distinct cultural IPs, has become a beloved destination for travelers drawn to its coastal scenery and local culture. Nestled on this island is a heartwarming family handicraft workshop, where the unique Blue Tears sea wonder is preserved in delicate handiworks, weaving together generations of enduring affection and island creativity.

In 2022, Pingtan siblings Yu Xi and Yu Zhoubo founded Grandma's Handicraft Workshop, named in memory of their late grandmother, a lifelong lover of handicrafts. Their simple original intention was to create a quiet space where people can come to make handiworks on the island, and this idea soon bloomed into a series of Pingtan-themed cultural and creative products. Yu Xi majored in public art at the China Academy of Art, and the Blue Tears miniature landscape was the product of a moment of serendipitous inspiration. "While scrolling through videos, I saw some beautifully crafted miniature landscapes, and I thought, could this be adapted into something representing Pingtan?" This thought became the starting point of their cultural and creative endeavors.

Making the Blue Tears miniature landscape is a sophisticated craft. It begins with carefully selecting thick seashells for the base, then using resin to make miniature versions of Pingtan's iconic landmarks like the Shipaiyang Rock Sails. The most demanding step is crafting the glowing Blue Tears waves: adding luminous pigment to resin and blowing gently into the resin as it begins to set in. "Blowing the shape is easy, but making it look beautiful takes experimentation. The materials are always unpredictable, a bit like opening a blind box," Yu Xi explained. This step defines the charm of the work, which takes a week to make as each layer of material needs time to fully set, so it is only available for pre-order.

A tourist named Zhang Qihong found the workshop on Xiaohongshu and made a special trip to pre-order a Blue Tears miniature landscape. "The whole family is busy in the shop, and the scene is so warm," he said. "This cultural and creative product is not just beautiful; it has warmth and stories behind it. Waiting a week is worth it because I'm taking home a piece of Pingtan's night carefully preserved."

The core idea of their cultural and creative products is to make up for travelers' regrets, Yu Zhoubo said. Many visitors come to Pingtan specifically to see the Blue Tears but may not be lucky enough to witness the wonder. The siblings want to turn this unique marine spectacle into a tangible souvenir, letting people take their Pingtan memories home. They have created luminous fridge magnets with special luminous materials to simulate the twinkling Blue Tears, recreating the fluorescent sea as faithfully as possible.

The workshop is a family affair: Yu Xi oversees design, Yu Zhoubo manages operations and online marketing, and their mother, uncle, even the uncle's schoolchildren all lend a hand. "We never wanted to scale up or open chain stores," Yu Xi said. "We just want to stay true to our original intention, and keep the unique warmth and slow pace of a family workshop."

As Pingtan has developed into a renowned international tourism island over the past decade, travelers' focus has shifted beyond just the sea to the local culture, a change that has brought more visitors to the workshop. Their handiworks are sold in souvenir stores at local tourist attractions, which also offer DIY experience spots. Yu Zhoubo's online store has also attracted many visitors to the physical workshop.

Now the workshop's product range has expanded, adding mother-of-pearl jewelry, seashell wind chimes, seashell paintings and more besides the Blue Tears series. The siblings have no grand plans for the future, favoring the comfort of creating handiworks slowly and collecting materials from the island's mountains and seas. A new piece combining the Blue Tears with the outline of Pingtan Island is currently in the works and will be released soon.