The 65-year-old blacksmith Xu Xihua burns a piece of iron at his store in Hai'an to forge it into a tool. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

There is a saying in China claiming that forging iron, poling a boat, and grinding bean curd are the three hardest jobs in the world. With more and more manual production being replaced by machines, smithies are gradually being phasing out in China.

Xu is busy making an iron tool. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

There is a smithy in Jianchang village, Hai'an, owned by 65-year-old blacksmith Xu Xihua.

Xu is busy making an iron tool. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

Xu says that he learned to forge iron from his father, a skill that has been passed down four generations. He started forging iron when he was just 18 years old.

Over the past several decades, Xu has been collecting crude steel to forge into plowshares, axes, shovels, and other tools crucial to Chinese farmers.

Xu adds the finishing touches to an iron tool. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

Xu usually holds a red-hot iron bar in one hand and swings an iron hammer the other to strike the iron bar into the shape that he desires. With decades of experience, Xu is always able to find the best spot to strike the iron bar.