Zou Qi is one of the few female swordsmiths in Longquan county-level city, Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to Tide News]

As the Year of the Snake nears, a sword-inspired refrigerator magnet has become a hit in Longquan, China's "hometown of swords" in Zhejiang province.

Its creator, Zou Qi, is a fourth-generation heir to the time-honored Yuanyuan Sword Workshop and one of the few female swordsmiths in the region.

Despite being born into a family deeply rooted in the art of sword-making, Zou initially avoided the livelihood. But as e-commerce disrupted old ways, the call of her family legacy grew impossible to ignore.

In 2021, she left her job to return home, bringing not only a willingness to endure the craft's demands but also a vision to adapt it for a new era.

Her father, Zou Jianming, a master smith with over four decades of experience, was hesitant.

"I didn't want her to go through these," he admitted. Yet, her resolve proved unyielding. Forging swords, she knew, required more than technical skill — it demanded immersion in fire, iron, and tradition.

Zou Qi (left) works among the glow of forges and the rhythm of hammers. [Photo provided to Tide News]

Crafting a Longquan sword involves over 200 intricate steps, with 28 core processes like hammering red-hot metal into shape. This labor, often lasting hours, is physically punishing, making female swordsmiths exceedingly rare.

Yet, Zou persisted. The burns and calluses became symbols of her dedication, and the moment her first self-forged sword was complete, every ache dissolved into pride.

But Zou's ambition reaches beyond preservation. Inspired by ancient books, she incorporated phoenix motifs into a blade she named "Phoenix Rebirth".

"The phoenix embodies resilience and renewal, and this sword carries that spirit," Zou said. Created alongside her father, the blade marked not just a moment of personal triumph but a melding of generations.

"Sword-making is often seen as a man's craft," Zou said, "but women bring a different sensibility — an eye for detail and a creative touch that broadens its possibilities."