Mulizhuang's dough figurines are performed by Muli artists from all directions.

The dough sculpture art is deeply loved by the masses. As a sideline, artists go to the market during the Spring Festival or during the slack season to pinch and sell to support their families. Later, from then on, more and more artists spread to Cao Zhou and its surrounding areas, and began to make a fortune through face-to-face teaching skills. They traveled all over the country and even performed abroad. Since 1920, more than 10 famous teachers and brothers, such as Li, have left home for many times to make noodles in Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and have gone abroad to perform in the Philippines, Malaysia, India and other countries. 1926, Li Junxing was invited to perform a face-to-face performance in the Royal Palace of Laos and was praised by the Royal Palace. 1928, more than ten people, including Li, Chang Tianxu, Li Benhua and Li Benchun, went to Singapore to perform and were well received. When the Li Junxing brothers returned to China, Chang Tianxu, Li Benhua and Li Benchun stayed in Singapore for a long time to continue to operate dough sculpture art. 193 1 year, Li Junxing went to Moscow to perform dough sculpture, which was welcomed by the Soviet people. Through the continuous efforts of dough sculpture artists, the dough sculpture art has been continuously improved, the theme has been continuously developed and expanded, and the production has become more exquisite, gradually forming a unique art in Heze, which enjoys a high reputation at home and abroad.

Today, the artists in Mulizhuang still maintain the traditional way of entertainment. There are more than 20 villages in Mulizhuang, Heze, with more than 300 pickpockets every year. According to traditional habits, they still go out in the off-season, return in the peak season, and perform arts all over the country. Jilin, Heilongjiang and Beijing in the north, and Guangdong and Fujian in the south all have footprints left by Heze dough figurines, and some of them have performed abroad.

During an interview in Mulizhuang, the reporter met Wu Jinfa, who was preparing to pack his bags and go to Yantai for a dough sculpture exhibition. Wu Jinfa, 36, also lives in Dongmuli Village. He has been studying dough sculpture for nearly 20 years.

"After self-study into a craft, I will run around during the slack season and earn some money to supplement my family. This is almost always the case in this area. I am busy outside for the first half of the year every year. " Wu Jinfa told reporters.

According to Wu Jinfa, dough sculpture artists usually take care of each other in small groups. The places I went to in recent years are also relatively stable. "There is a relatively fixed route." Income is different. Generally speaking, "excluding expenses, you can have a net income of more than several thousand yuan", which has become the main source of local income.

Fangqing Li is very optimistic about the development prospect of dough modeling. "The difference between dough sculpture and many declining folk customs is that it is not only an art, but also a craft that can make a living, and it is destined to have super vitality."