Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

The second edition of Xiangzhou's annual signature craftsmanship contest closed on Oct 29, with awards presented to the winners in 11 competition categories at Nanping Sci-tech Industrial Park.

The 2017 Craftsmen in Xiangzhou Competition was held after the success of the previous year's event and even promoted to become a "Project of Party Secretary" in the Zhuhai district in a bid to appeal to more skilled professionals and craftsmen.

The month-long event attracted 473 participants from 213 enterprises – a record number – by adding contests in e-commerce, western food cooking, vehicle sales & maintenance, and power cable installation, to give all walks of life a platform to showcase on.

A fork lift truck is operated within a designated area leaving zero margin for error.

Each winner won 10,000 yuan ($1,505) with the top six participants in each category taking home prizes doubling that of last year, an amount linked to their final ranking. Xiangzhou Craftsman certificates were issued along with subsidies and favorable talent policies. 

Auto mechanic Chen Jiawen, 22, won in a category involving the re-spraying of a damaged car door. Despite his young age, Chen has accumulated four years' work experience after graduating from the Guangzhou Traffic & Transportation Vocational School.  

Tasked to restore a car with a few scratches on its body shell and bonnet, Chen demonstrated his skillful techniques in treating the damage, spraying primer, grinding, and surface coating – all completed in less than two hours.

"Hard work will be finally rewarded. We can only master better skills with more assiduous learning and practicing," Chen said. He has passed a tryout in China with the fourth highest scores for a world-level skill competition designated for the profession. His achievement was also credited to his inner drive to be innovative.

Damaged cars receive "cosmetic surgery" from skilled technicians at Xiangzhou vocational skills competition.

The event is part of the district's talent cultivation program, sponsored by the Organization Department of CPC Xiangzhou District, Human Recourses and Social Security Bureau, Federation of Trade Unions of Xiangzhou District, and Xiangzhou's Human Resources Development Management Service Center.

Xiangzhou will continue spreading craftsmanship by fostering knowledge-based, skilled and innovative talent in response to the requirements urged by the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress, according to the local government.

Participants carry out electronic testing of multiple items. [Photos by Chen Lin / Zhuhai Daily]